Google and Microsoft want to do the same thing for personal health that software such as Quicken has already done for people's personal finances. Google Health, which was released in May, and Microsoft HealthVault, which launched last October, allow consumers to store and manage their personal medical data online. Users will be able to gather information from doctors, hospitals, and testing laboratories and share it with new medical providers, making it easier to coördinate care for complicated conditions and spot potential drug interactions or other problems. Both Google and Microsoft will also offer links to third-party services like medication reminders and programs that track users' blood-­pressure and glucose readings over time.

Select from the choices above to read the entire article.