While some exciting and interesting research and clinical studies and concepts were presented and will be featured in upcoming newsletters, I was very taken by the glimpses of computer technology and internet potential that I saw there. Patients could investigate competitive drug pricing for the same drug or for therapeutic equivalents. Patients could research clinical trials involving their medical condition either to determine study results or investigate possible participation in the clinical trial if they fulfill the recruitment guidelines. MDs will likely find their practice patterns affected in many other ways. Computers and the IN facilitate medication ordering and certainly decrease the risk of errors in medication dispensing.
Computers facilitate patient notification.
A doctor could easily determine if all his diabetic patients were taking angiotensin- converting enzyme inhibitors after recent studies convincingly demonstrated their benefit in diabetics. This information could be accessed from any site via a hand-held, laptop or personal computer. Security and confidentiality would seem to be major concerns here. The doctor could also reprogram the patient device from a remote location. This information is derived from the cardiac activity, blood pressure and breathing pattern.