Surgeon general, Microsoft form PHR partnership

The U.S. Surgeon General's Office has announced a collaboration with Microsoft Corp., linking the government-developed and free My Family Health Portrait online health history development tool with Microsoft's HealthVault personal health-record platform.

The new government venture with Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft “enables consumers to easily record their family health history and integrate the information stored in their My Family Health Portrait profile into a personal HealthVault account,” according to a news release.

“This new collaboration with HealthVault is part of a broader initiative and one of many third-party solutions that will expand the capability of My Family Health Portrait to help individuals make knowledgeable health decisions with their doctors,” Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, M.D., said in the release.

According to the office, in the coming months, "My Family Health Portrait will expand its offering to other third-party health solutions.”

Microsoft did not charge the government for the HealthVault connection, according to a government spokewoman.

What do you think? Post a comment on this article and share your opinion with other readers. Submit your letter to Modern Physician Online at [email protected]. Please be sure to include your hometown and state, along with your organization and title.