Comments on: HealthVault: Medically, Legally, and Politically Savvy but Technically Uninformed. http://www.fredtrotter.com/2007/10/28/healthvault-medically-legally-and-politically-savvy-but-technically-uninformed/ Hacktivist, coding for social change Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:19:13 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Healthvault: In summary, so far. | Fred Trotter http://www.fredtrotter.com/2007/10/28/healthvault-medically-legally-and-politically-savvy-but-technically-uninformed/comment-page-1/#comment-2422 Healthvault: In summary, so far. | Fred Trotter Mon, 22 Sep 2008 20:51:06 +0000 http://www.fredtrotter.com/2007/10/27/healthvault-medically-legally-and-politically-savvy-but-technically-uninformed/#comment-2422 [...] centered on the problem with Dr. Deborah Peels endorsement of Microsoft’s Healthvault. In Medically, Legally, and Politically Savvy but Technically Uninformed. I discuss the fact that Dr. Deborah Peel has endorsed Healthvault, despite being totally [...] [...] centered on the problem with Dr. Deborah Peels endorsement of Microsoft’s Healthvault. In Medically, Legally, and Politically Savvy but Technically Uninformed. I discuss the fact that Dr. Deborah Peel has endorsed Healthvault, despite being totally [...]

]]> By: ftrotter http://www.fredtrotter.com/2007/10/28/healthvault-medically-legally-and-politically-savvy-but-technically-uninformed/comment-page-1/#comment-49 ftrotter Wed, 07 Nov 2007 15:28:25 +0000 http://www.fredtrotter.com/2007/10/27/healthvault-medically-legally-and-politically-savvy-but-technically-uninformed/#comment-49 Regarding insurance companies. I whole heartedly disapprove of many things that insurance companies do. But I am not an insurance expert and so I cannot really do much about that. Regarding "one big database of health data". I am absolutely for it, as long as the database uses de-identified data. There is no other way to measure progress on public health issues. Again, the "big picture" actually requires understanding of some pretty subtle technical issues. What algorithm should be used to de-identify? What role should one-way hash functions play? Which one-way hash function should be used? I think you may be in danger of missing the trees for the forest. Regarding "this point it is NOT a technology issue". My point is that it is not-only a technology issue and not-only policy issue. Regarding Dr. Peels initiatives: I think her initiative previous to her work with Microsoft have been first rate. I have looked over her testimony in congress and I am very happy with many of the things she said. I have a lot of respect for her policymaking positions, but not her technology positions. Regarding politics: I try to focus on areas where I can make the most difference, and the next presidential election is not it. Hope that is clearer. Regarding insurance companies. I whole heartedly disapprove of many things that insurance companies do. But I am not an insurance expert and so I cannot really do much about that.

Regarding “one big database of health data”. I am absolutely for it, as long as the database uses de-identified data. There is no other way to measure progress on public health issues. Again, the “big picture” actually requires understanding of some pretty subtle technical issues. What algorithm should be used to de-identify? What role should one-way hash functions play? Which one-way hash function should be used? I think you may be in danger of missing the trees for the forest.

Regarding “this point it is NOT a technology issue”. My point is that it is not-only a technology issue and not-only policy issue.

Regarding Dr. Peels initiatives: I think her initiative previous to her work with Microsoft have been first rate. I have looked over her testimony in congress and I am very happy with many of the things she said. I have a lot of respect for her policymaking positions, but not her technology positions.

Regarding politics: I try to focus on areas where I can make the most difference, and the next presidential election is not it.

Hope that is clearer.

]]> By: Melissa http://www.fredtrotter.com/2007/10/28/healthvault-medically-legally-and-politically-savvy-but-technically-uninformed/comment-page-1/#comment-47 Melissa Wed, 07 Nov 2007 02:02:46 +0000 http://www.fredtrotter.com/2007/10/27/healthvault-medically-legally-and-politically-savvy-but-technically-uninformed/#comment-47 Fred, Let me ask you a couple of questions. Do you think it is alright that insurance companies (i.e. BC/BS and Atena) are in collusion with each other sharing common data fields across their databases about our health records? Or how do you feel about our government wanting to create one big data base of health data? You obviously have a passion and great acumen for our health records; but at this point it is NOT a technology issue. I wish that you would concentrate your writing talent on PHRs and how the American people need to be involved in what is happening (not just Microsoft and Google and Dossia) but what is really happening. Thank GOD for Dr. Peel (I have no connection to her) and her initiatives. Our govnernement and this next election is what we should ALL be scared about. I have always said to guru technical guys...look at the big picture, because the issues about what is happening to our health records is so far from a technology issue.. Fred,
Let me ask you a couple of questions. Do you think it is alright that insurance companies (i.e. BC/BS and Atena) are in collusion with each other sharing common data fields across their databases about our health records? Or how do you feel about our government wanting to create one big data base of health data? You obviously have a passion and great acumen for our health records; but at this point it is NOT a technology issue. I wish that you would concentrate your writing talent on PHRs and how the American people need to be involved in what is happening (not just Microsoft and Google and Dossia) but what is really happening. Thank GOD for Dr. Peel (I have no connection to her) and her initiatives. Our govnernement and this next election is what we should ALL be scared about. I have always said to guru technical guys…look at the big picture, because the issues about what is happening to our health records is so far from a technology issue..

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