Impediments to developing wide area networks in health care

The availability and prominence of telecommunication technology has spurred research into generic wide area health care networks. Electronic exchange of patient data supposedly results in cost efficiencies, increased accessibility to health care resources, and improved delivery of health care services. Although a number of pilot networks have been built, none yet have a broad, heterogeneous base of users and applications. Properties of the health care process and delivery system delay the acceptance of generic wide area networks and end-user computer applications. As the technical problems seem well understood, it seems advisable to investigate these factors in telemedical research.