The California HealthCare Foundation has released a report that describes how the Web is turning into a platform for connecting people who have shared concerns and creating more health information for consumers. Social networks that include MySpace as well as specific disease-oriented sites, are being generated so quickly that new services are already under development to help health consumers manage their way through these networks.

The report details how online collaborations are changing the way patients, healthcare providers, and researchers learn about therapeutic regimens and disease management. It also takes a look at the benefits and concerns regarding Health 2.0 as well as an extensive listing of health media resources.

The report say that the growing demand for transparency will be the driving force behind the evolution of social media in health and that a growing number of tools will become available that are increasingly mobile, as well as commercial products that facilitate personal health data storage like Microsoft Health Vault, Google Health, and others. The report’s author concludes that the demands of a consumer-driven health marketplace will be the inspiration for innovation in programs that integrate clinical, financial, and ratings information.

About The California HealthCare Foundation

The California HealthCare Foundation is an independent philanthropy committed to improving the way health care is delivered and financed in California. By promoting innovations in care and broader access to information, our goal is to ensure that all Californians can get the care they need, when they need it, at a price they can afford.

CHCF commissions research and analysis; publishes and disseminates information; convenes meetings of key health care groups; and funds development of programs and models aimed at improving health care in California.