The Cleveland Clinic is one of several Google partners connected to this initiative. Others include Allscripts, Walgreen's, Longs Drugs Stores, CVS Caremark Group and Quest Diagnostics.

"Diagnostic testing is the foundation of a patient's health record and a key driver of the healthcare decisions physicians make on behalf of their patients," said Stephen C. Suffin, MD, interim chief laboratory officer and corporate medical director, clinical pathology, Quest Diagnostics. "Using Google Health, physicians will be able to more efficiently share important diagnostic data with their patients. As patients become better informed and proactive in managing their healthcare, they may be more likely to practice preventive care, adopt healthful behaviors and practice other measures that promote improved medical outcomes."

Google executives stressed that the information entered into Google Health would remain private.

Speaking at the annual Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society conference last February, Google Inc. chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt repeatedly deflected questions about security and privacy concerns, arguing that Google was not engaged in any activities that would require HIPAA-related regulation. "Google Health is probably more secure," he said, "because it requires explicit permission to access data."