I read an interesting article this morning about Keas, a new website that delivers customized health care plans for consumers based on their health information and records. The company takes advantage of the push to make health care records electronic.

Although there is a part of me that recoils at the thought of all of my health care information being stored on a server (that can be hacked), I feel that it is inevitable, and that the benefits of easily portable data will outweigh the privacy risks. But I’m surprised that this article doesn’t address what I would think would be a major risk – can Keas be held responsible for the advice that they give if it has bad effects? Will it truly be medical advice or just watered down lifestyle and diet recommendations? And what do doctors and other healthcare professionals think about a website taking away their ability to prescribe for and monitor their patients?

Still, I am cautiously optimistic about anything that gives consumers more insight into their medical care. Health care is one of the few areas that, thus far, has not benefited from the web in breaking down barriers to information, and too much of our medical care is inscrutable. I can read hundreds of reviews before I buy a TV or camera, or pick a restaurant or hair salon, but I can’t do that to find a doctor, which is so much more important.

Anyway, here’s the link to the article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/06/technology/06bosworth.html?ref=todayspaper.