Couldn't agree with you more, Bosco.
I think the reason that Mr. Seymour compares WebMD with WebVan is purely the similarity in their names. But I can't understand why Mr. Seymour, I suppose he is smart, or at least has a brain, would prefer WebVan vs. WebMD. Like you, I would not touch WebVan and bet on the success of WebMD.
The major barriers for WebMD’s success, in my opinion, are not technical, but psychological and political, and both need time to change.
The first one is the worry about security/privacy about medical records. Actually, the modern security technology is more than enough for the privacy purpose. Our medical records are viewed and accessible daily by hundred people, from doctor, medical assistant, secretary, …, to clerk. It is just like using credit card on the Internet, from which it is probably more difficult to capture a credit number than from a worker and garbage can in any Wall Mart and grocery store. In the recent restructuring after Wygod becomes the sole CEO, WebMD decides to move, from the original plan, medical records from centralized data storages on the Internet, to a doctor’s local office. This may partially ease the worry, even though it is less efficient.
The second barrier is the insurance companies’ reluctance to work with an outsider like WebMD and the Internet. I have no idea about how Wygod will handle this problem (hope he is working on it).
However, with so much money on the table, eventually, the old force has to succumb to the New Economy. That is my belief. |
