Is Buying Google Inc (GOOG) a Smart Healthcare Play?

Many intriguing health care uses of the technology exist for patients also. For example, a patient with health problems that require a strict diet could wear Google Glass as she shops for groceries. Future applications could help the person find foods that meet her dietary requirements as she looks at the products on the shelf.

Google Health redux?
There are drawbacks for thinking of Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) stock as a potential health care play. While the company should benefit from increased advertising related to health reform, those additional dollars could just be a drop in the bucket for an enterprise that generated more than $50 billion in revenue last year.

And while Google Glass seems like a cool technology with lots of health care applications, there are plenty of concerns — particularly relating to privacy. Google Health also seemed cool a few years ago, with former executive Marissa Mayer stating in 2008 that the service could eventually include “thousands of partners and millions of users.” That proved to be a wee bit optimistic.

Nevertheless, I still think that buying Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) stock could be a smart health care investment choice. Online advertising and social media use is on the upswing in health care, which comprises around 18% of U.S. GDP. Google Glass has the potential to revolutionize the world of health care. Google Health might have failed, but I suspect Google plus health care could mean success in the days ahead.

The article Is Buying Google Stock a Smart Health Care Play? originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Keith Speights.

Fool contributor Keith Speights has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Google and UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:UNH). The Motley Fool owns shares of Google.

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