re: E-Prescriptions
I have a theory that the stickiest medical websites will be owned by the electronic medical record companies. They will be able to give patients read-only access to their REAL medical records: lab results, medication history, etc. If the EMR companies have any sense, they will require patients to store their health-related e-mail with their doctors on their secure servers, since e-mail at work belongs to one's employer. When patients come to access that information, some advertising may be directed to them. HLTH intends to convey personal medical information and (I think) physician communication to patients at their site.
In contrast, Dr Koop is a retired old pediatrician. I really doubt he is doing much in the way of creating content for his website. When you consider the intricacies and subtleties of search bots and the tools of evidence-based medicine, and the explosion of medical knowledge, I would be surprised if he can do much of this work himself. He is probably just selling his name. If my doubts are correct, I think this is rather slimy behavior on the part of a physician. However, the ethics displayed by my some members of my profession continue to surprise me. Maybe I would do no better were I in his situation.
JMHO,
Tom D
Disclosure: I have been long HLTH since the day of its IPO. I am neither short nor long KOOP. For the reason mentioned above, I am bearish on all health information websites, except rare exceptions like Medscape, which deliver compelling informational value to users. |
