The anatomy of online information for physicians.

Online medical networked information (OMNI) is one of the newest and fastest growing types of information sources for physicians. The authors present an organizational framework for understanding the range of available OMNI sources and discuss the practical applications, strengths and limitations of online resources. Physicians can now gain access on line to a wealth of information relating to many aspects of clinical medicine and can consult interactively with colleagues on clinical and research questions. The limitations of networked online resources include lack of access, difficulty in navigating online systems and the potential for fraudulent use. Net-worked online systems are growing in popularity and may become integral to medical practice as barriers to efficient use are overcome.