M Kidd1. 1. Department of General Practice, University of Sydney, General Practice Computing Group.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The rapid development of the internet means that both a wealth of health information and a minefield of misinformation are now available to our patients. No longer are medical practitioners seen as the sole custodians of medical information. OBJECTIVE: This article explores how the roles of doctor and patient are changing in response to the internet, including the availability of electronic access to the general practitioner and to health information and other resources on the internet. DISCUSSION: Do you believe that the internet will have an impact on your clinical practice? Can you see yourself conducting teleconsultations at a distance with your patients in the future? Will you be using e-mail to send results to your patients and to recall them for preventive care interventions? Will you and your patients be surfing the internet together for the answers to clinical dilemmas? The future may be closer than you think.
BACKGROUND: The rapid development of the internet means that both a wealth of health information and a minefield of misinformation are now available to our patients. No longer are medical practitioners seen as the sole custodians of medical information. OBJECTIVE: This article explores how the roles of doctor and patient are changing in response to the internet, including the availability of electronic access to the general practitioner and to health information and other resources on the internet. DISCUSSION: Do you believe that the internet will have an impact on your clinical practice? Can you see yourself conducting teleconsultations at a distance with your patients in the future? Will you be using e-mail to send results to your patients and to recall them for preventive care interventions? Will you and your patients be surfing the internet together for the answers to clinical dilemmas? The future may be closer than you think.