Microsoft has agreed to acquire Medstory Inc., the company that has developed a clever web search technology for health information. The web giant was prompted to purchase the intuitive technology of the company to improve access to health information. As such, improved access would eventually result to better-informed health decisions among netizens.

Medstory employees will form part of the Health Solutions Group at Microsoft. Said group will manage product development and delivery. Peter Neupert, corporate vice president for health strategy and leader of the Health Solutions Group said, "At Microsoft, we are focused on enabling people to make the best decisions. We were impressed with the ability of Medstory's unique technology to organize and surface the most relevant online health content, which empowers consumers who are trying to find the right information about an important life event."

According to the latest study of Pew Internet & American Life Project, 8 million people in the United States go online for health information every day, and 53 percent of health-seekers said a recent search had an impact on how they take care of themselves or someone else. Yet 22 percent of respondents said they felt frustrated by a lack of information or an inability to find what they were looking for.

Unlike most search engine results, Medstory's results provide prequalified information to consumers and health professionals conducting health-related queries. Hence, the search results yielded are refined and more focused.