Information networks and their impact upon medicine

There is an information explosion and geometric growth of knowledge in medicine. The individual physician finds himself having great difficulty coping with this ever increasing knowledge base. The recognition of a gap in such knowledge; while frustrating, may also have a direct impact upon patient care. Computer technology, information retrieval modalities, and teleprocessing between remote locations has been viewed as a partial solution to this issue. Microcomputers and their associated elements are able to be used as information retrieval devices tapping into vast reservoirs of data and information on all aspects of medicine. Physicians faced with this new technology generally have little or no training, experience or understanding of how best to harness the power of computers to meet their individual practice requirements. This article provides a basic overview of those computer concepts that relate specifically to information retrieval from large data bases to individual physician's offices, regardless of their location. The article explores the specific hardware and software components that are required for effective linkage into a computer based information network for medicine. The article concludes with an overview of the work done by the American Academy of Dermatology in this area to satisfy informational needs of its members in coping with the ever increasing knowledge base of medicine.