Posted by Alan Newberger, Engineering Manager (The Official Google Blog)
"Working as an engineer here on the health team, I've been excited to participate in building tools that will help me and others manage our personal health information more effectively. Many innovators in the healthcare industry have worked hard to make results of doctor visits, prescriptions, tests and procedures available digitally.

Royal Philips Electronics today announced that it will lead a new European Union (EU) funded research project aimed at improving care of heart patients through the development of innovative telemonitoring solutions. Following the highly successful MyHeart project, the HeartCycle project will start on March 1, 2008, and will be one of the largest biomedical and healthcare research projects within the EU.

(CNN.com) Google Inc. will begin storing the medical records of a few thousand people as it tests a long-awaited health service that's likely to raise more concerns about the volume of sensitive information entrusted to the Internet search leader.

Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO), the leader in digital security, announced that it will provide leading Health Sector specialists ZZZS and Cetis with a comprehensive solution for the latest generation of electronic health cards for Slovenian citizens. This new electronic health card is the first of its kind in Europe to feature a Java public key infrastructure (PKI) that will further secure the online health system via a digital signature for health professionals.

The Siemens Healthcare Sector is planning to strengthen its position in the field of computer-assisted surgery with the acquisition of CAS innovations AG. The corresponding agreement is now concluded between the two companies. The antitrust authorities still have to approve the transaction. It was agreed not to reveal the purchase price. CAS innovations manufactures surgical navigation systems which improve planning for operations while at the same time making them faster and safer.

Royal Philips Electronics (AEX:PHI, NYSE:PHG) announced that it achieved a 33% increase in sales of Green Products in 2007, as published in the company's 10th annual Sustainability Report today. All three Philips sectors - Healthcare, Lighting and Consumer Lifestyle - showed a significant increase in sales of Green Products in 2007, resulting in total Green Product sales of EUR 5.3 billion in 2007, compared with EUR 4 billion in 2006.

RamSoft, a developer of innovative RIS and PACS software will be announcing the expansion of its international distribution network into Europe at this year's European Congress of Radiology (ECR Booth 458). The company is inviting healthcare solution providers, imaging equipment manufacturers, networking IT companies as well as sales professionals to inquire about exclusive territorial partnerships.