Here in Orlando at HIMSS'08 Google is barely noticeable and Microsoft is making a huge splash. Even so, Scott Shreeve unabashedly declares Google the PHR winner in his Getting Giga Over Google (Again) post:
My prediction: Google by a long shot. A really long, interconnected, collaborative, collective intelligence, networked kind of aggregated intelligence kind of a shot.
Whether you a agree with Scott or not, it's a good read.
My only caution: It's never a good idea to underestimate Microsoft. They may come to the game late, but when they put their minds (and resources) to it, they often win.
Bob,
Fair enough. I am putting my neck out there a bit in terms of making a declarative statement when the troops are still massing. However, from where I sit, you could reframe the conversation as the “application” vs. the “network” type of a battle. Individual power generators or the grid. In that paradigm – the Network is winner.
In terms of Microsoft coming late, dropping coin, and ultimately prevailing . . . it has been a very effective model. However, I never thought I would move off of outlook, word, powerpoint, or my other office applications either. Guess what – no mass to all – using free and freely supplied replacements – the Network is the computer.
Applications need not apply.
Scott,
Even though the Office division is their bread and butter, MS has invested heavily in their Enterprise architecture (ESB, SOA, etc.). If you look at any of the healthcare integration systems available (e.g. dbMotion), this is the nature of the “network” technology being deployed. These message-based infrastructures are being used to tie together the hundreds of disparate systems out there. These legacy systems are not going away and new ones are coming out every day. This is what IHE is all about (which has a very impressive showcase this year, btw).
I think PHR will only be successful when patients are actually able to control their *real* medical data and use it to communicate effectively with their healthcare professionals. My on-line banking experience would be very disappointing if I couldn’t get my balance or transfer money. The banking system has provided a backbone that allows this to occur. Healthcare IT needs to do the same. It’s not an “application” vs. “network” issue; it’s a “backbone” issue.