"Google Health" Lets Patients Share Medical Information Online

Mountain View, CA (AHN) - Search engine giant Google unveiled its much-awaited health service Web site Google Health on Monday. The site allows consumers to manage their medical records and other health-related information and receive health advice online.

The free service allows users to import records from a variety of care providers and pharmacies and create their electronic health profile. The information can then be shared with their doctor or a specialist for a second opinion.

Google tested the service by storing medical records for a few thousand patient volunteers at the not-for-profit Cleveland Clinic. The Mountain View, California-based company has garnered partnerships with the Cleveland Clinic, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Longs Drug Stores Corp. and Walgreen Co.

Currently the company has ruled out any possibility of selling advertising on the service but has not denied it for the future.

Marissa Mayer, a Google vice president, said that the company will continue to sign up partners to ensure that its users have access to maximum medical information.