Internal medicine consultation via the information superhighway

On-line computer consultation provides an excellent medium by which specialists and general practitioners can communicate to share information. Networks of veterinarians are available on the internet as well as through several on-line service companies. Some of the advantages of on-line consultation include access to the collective wisdom of thousands of veterinarians, better communication through discontinuous interchange on a flexible schedule, rapid response time to requests for information, and better client service through continuing education and improved patient care. Disadvantages include the cost of computer equipment and on-line charges, user computer phobia, and drawbacks common to all types of long distance consultation such as the inability of consultants to physically examine the patient. Overall, the advantages far outweight the disadvantages. On-line veterinary information exchange will continue to expand and will play an even more important role in knowledge transfer in the 21st century.