Michael Bodner: A more effective way of tackling information access rights over the Internet

Michael Bodner believes he has a better way of tackling information access rights over the Internet. We first discuss his rather impressive background from a PhD in astrophysics to working for the information heavy weights Thomson and ProQuest. We then get into the business case for his new venture which is rooted in eliminating duplicate testing which some estimate as comprising up to 30% of all medical costs.

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Filed under: Ann Arbor, MI | Finding Gaps | IT Security | Information Technology | Michael Bodner | Quantum Information Technologies

In this podcast (watch Quicktime iPod compatible, 149MB; watch Google streaming flash video), Michael Bodner, CIO and Senior Partner of Quantum Information Technologies, and I (Bud Gibson) discuss his background and a new venture he is starting in the online medical information space. As Michael describes in the first part of the interview, he has a unique background. He is an actual rocket scientist with a PhD in astrophysics from St. John's University. He also taught for seven years at SUNY Buffalo and worked for NASA where he was involved in testing the space shuttle.

Michael had been fascinated with personal computers from the start, putting together hobbyist kits with his students in the late 70's and early 80's. As the PC was getting started he decided to make the switch to private industry, starting as a consultant with Computer Land, one of the first major PC retailers. His more recent experience has involved senior stints with Thomson and ProQuest.

Recently, Michael decided to harken back to his physics roots and focus on developing technology startups. In this interview, we discuss his current project, tentatively titled Quantum Medical Informatics, that focuses on the particularly thorny problem of access to patient medical records. The business case is simple. It is estimated that 30% of total US healthcare costs arises from duplication of tests because the doctor ordering the tests does not have online access to patients' medical records. Of course, access to patients' records is surrounded by many privacy issues. Maximizing access, one has no privacy. Maximizing privacy, one has no access. Michael and his venture partners have come up with a way of representing access privileges using a matrix format that allows for graded access between these two absolutes.

The venture is still in its early stages, and Michael sees uses for the underlying security technology across a number of vertical applications including several in the medical industry and even the possibility of providing graded access for Google Apps. The company has proof of concept demonstrations and is seeking seed capital. In the next year, Michael would like to see the company launched as a secure access software service.

Additional Links

• The official federal government page on patient privacy is here.
• Michael is really talking about taking on the health care system to achieve his company's value proposition. This article provides a summary of the major issues facing any attempt at health care reform.