Citizens Memorial partners with Google Health

Bolivar-based Citizens Memorial Healthcare is using a well-known Internet service to provide better access to patients' personal health records.

CMH is partnering with Google Health to provide access to medical records, including medication history, lab and test results, allergies and conditions. Free Google Health accounts allow patients to store and access medical information online, according to a CMH news release.

CMH is the first rural hospital and third integrated health system in the country to partner with Google Health, according to the release.

Patients create a personal account and can pull information into their profiles by connecting with integrated providers in the Google Health partner directory. Google uses encryption and firewall technology to secure individual information, and patients choose who can access their information and how much is confidential.

"At CMH, we believe in our patients' right to have access to their own health information and to control who that information is shared with. Google Health gives our patients that access and control," CMH Chief Information Officer Denni McColm said in the release. "It is our hope that other health care providers will also integrate with Google Health in order to make patient data more accessible."

CMH, which first implemented the mental health record system in 2003, was recognized at Monday's Health Information and Management Systems Society trade show for achieving Stage 7, the highest achievable level.