Improved online access to health information to encourage adoption of personal health records.

REDMOND, Wash., July 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Microsoft Corp. today announced a strategic collaboration with RelayHealth, McKesson Corp.'s connectivity business, to accelerate and improve the relationship between doctors and patients. Together, Microsoft HealthVault and RelayHealth will enable affordable patient connectivity with doctors' offices and hospitals so patients can have security-enhanced, easy online access to medical care, information and records.

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HealthVault will provide physicians using RelayHealth's Software as a Service (SaaS) platform with the technology to facilitate enhanced online patient service and communications. Physicians can easily employ the RelayHealth service, which includes electronic prescribing, through a Web browser as the initial step toward clinical automation of their practice. The service is also designed to integrate with electronic medical record systems already in use. For patients, the combined solution allows access to their personal health information and an online interaction with their personal physician.

'Until now, the ability for consumers to access and share appropriate health information online has not been possible, and as a result, personal health records (PHRs) have not been broadly adopted or consistently used,' said Pamela Pure, president of McKesson Technology Solutions. 'Our relationship with Microsoft can change that. HealthVault offers consumers a convenient and accessible way to store and manage their healthcare and wellness data in one central place. The RelayHealth network then connects the consumer's portfolio of information with the care provider and unifies the management of the personal health record.'

Pure added that RelayHealth's security-enhanced network makes it easy for physicians to review clinical data and share appropriate information with their patients or other clinicians efficiently.

'This new relationship enables us to connect the personal health record to the care process so the information can be better utilized,' Pure said.

RelayHealth's core services enable patients to schedule healthcare appointments online, request prescription refills, pay bills, obtain results and even visit their doctor online using security-enhanced webVisit(R) consultations for non-urgent care. HealthVault is a consumer health platform that allows people to collect, store and share health information with family members and participating healthcare providers.

'Together, Microsoft and RelayHealth will make it easier for consumers and doctors to exchange information that is a part of our everyday lives, such as ordering and filling prescriptions, receiving lab results and other important exchanges that impact our health and well-being,' said Peter Neupert, corporate vice president of the Health Solutions Group at Microsoft. 'Using the Internet to better connect patients and providers is a big step toward engaging people in their health decisions and ultimately improving the quality of patient care.'

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

SOURCE Microsoft Corp.