Article at a glance:
Hospitals, physicians, and patients could all benefit from Web-based clinical-data exchanges that would offer health care providers speedy, accurate information about their patients' diagnoses, treatments, prescriptions, and insurance. But the financial and logistical barriers are significant and persistent. Since the first movers would have to invest disproportionately in setting up these networks—which would benefit a larger group of doctors, labs, and hospitals—it has proved difficult to organize support for them.
The take-away
Governments and private foundations will probably have to provide leadership and financing if such networks are to become a reality.
This article includes the following exhibits:
- Exhibit 1: Role of participants in Internet-based clinical-information network
- Exhibit 2: Effects of community size, participation rates on value of community clinical-data exchanges
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