The launch of Healia Communities adds to a growing mix of sites all aimed at providing a common ground for people, ailments, and the ability to connect with others online.

Insurer Aetna tapped Healthline to provide a platform for Aetna’s customers to find answers to questions about coverage, physicians, and medications.

The Center for Medicine in the Public Interest (CMPI) has concerns about searching the Internet for health-related information, but we have concerns about CMPI.

First thing’s first: I’m suspicious of the pharmaceutical industry in general. A lot of people are, but as a journalist, suspicion is part of the job. Also, I have the researcher’s tendency toward cyberchondriasis, so take my non-medical expertise for what it’s worth.

Which isn’t much. I put that out there so others won’t have to.

Google’s former health project leader will provide the closing keynote address for the World Healthcare Innovation and Technology conference.

The publishers behind the venerable Physicians’ Desk Reference opened a new site for consumers based on the same information platform as the book.

Thailand’s Bumrungrad International Hospital formed an alliance with Microsoft, where the technology company will acquire all the goodies owned under the Hospital’s Global Care Solutions firm.

One of the biggest names in technology wants people to trust it with health information; we have to wonder if HealthVault from Microsoft is arriving on time, or a little too soon for people.