Going online: The role of web-based initiatives in health information technology

As Internet usage grows, so does the desire for online accessibility to healthcare services. In addition to patient convenience, Web-based services improve efficiency, further patient-provider communication, increase patient participation in healthcare decision-making, and enhance patient safety, all while containing healthcare costs. More than just an electronic medical record, examples of Web-based initiatives range from e-prescriptions, e-scheduling, and an e-mail-type Web-based messaging system to an online healthcare portal. Medicare and private insurers have offered incentives to promote adoption of health information technology, although they have yet to establish a universally accepted reimbursement model and outcome measures.