Prescription for Protecting Online Health Records

By Michael Liedtke The Associated Press Wednesday, June 25, 2008; 4:19 PM SAN FRANCISCO -- Hoping to persuade more people to store their medical records online, Google Inc., Microsoft Corp. and a hodgepodge of health care providers and insurers have agreed on ground rules for protecting the privacy of the sensitive information. The guidelines unveiled Wednesday are designed to reassure patients that they can enjoy the convenience of keeping their medical histories in online filing cabinets without worrying that will open a door for outsiders to peruse the data without their knowledge.