The following is an interesting comment by Miles Hochstein, Program Director Omnimedix Institute in reply:

Jean,
I enjoyed perusing your PHR blog, since it’s a about topic that is very much on our minds here at Omnimedix Institute. I invite you to learn more about the independent nonprofit institute (Omnimedix Institute) that is developing, deploying and operating Dossia here, http://omnimedix.org/dossia.html and to read about our commitment to the same principles that you eloquently describe: http://omnimedix.org/phrbasics_article1.html

In addition some more specific answers to consumer concerns are provided at the Dossia web site here: http://dossia.org/overview.html and here: http://dossia.org/faq.html

I strongly agree with you on the importance of data being held by a neutral third party, and the entire Dossia effort is in fact founded on a separation between the employer funders and the ownership of the data. We at Omnimedix are totally committed to privacy as a consumer right and as the basic foundation for the successful adoption of Personal Health Records. In funding this project, the Dossia Founders group have endorsed these ideas as well. It is because we share your privacy concerns that we have designed the Dossia system in the manner described above, as a secure and independent infrastructure to support true personal health records, controlled by the individual, institutionally independent of the employer, protected by financial level security systems (for example, never stored entirely in a single location, but rather in a federated data base), a record that will follow the person for life. There are many important details to discuss in how this vision will be realized but I believe that we at Omnimedix share your perspective. I also would say that to my knowledge the Omnimedix Institute / Dossia project is the only PHR project now nearing deployment that meets the standards for institutional independence, data control, privacy and consumer rights that you describe.

We’re doing things differently, and we are optimistic that by doing the right thing we will bring the power of PHRs to many more people than have them today. Thanks for creating a blog about PHR issues. I look forward to reading your blog again.

Miles Hochstein Program Director Omnimedix Institute