What is really unfortunate and not communicated in this article is just how much Google's various star crossed forays into healthcare took oxygen from other fruitful and deserving efforts. It's an indictment of healthcare institutions as well for falling for it every time one of the tech megaliths promises the moon.
At ClearHealth we lost many, many potential projects, partners and dollars over the years to "we are going to see what google is doing", "we are in talks with google", etc.
The damage is very large but difficult to calculate.
I hear ya - at UNH if I had a dollar for every time I heard "We are in talks with google to do X" I'd be a very rich man. For years Google Glass in healthcare were the buzz words everyone wanted but could never put together. Google FHIR integration was always just over the horizon. Not surprised to hear their healthcare efforts are folding but like you I feel the disappointment.
Rule of thumb - ignore what Google does. Their lack of focus and proclivity to murder projects that are not runaway success without years of hard slogging has a solid track record.
At ClearHealth we lost many, many potential projects, partners and dollars over the years to "we are going to see what google is doing", "we are in talks with google", etc.
The damage is very large but difficult to calculate.