Patients with common needs exchange information by forming virtual support groups. Some of these methods allow the creation of elaborate Web sites that can educate both patients and professionals. The use of information technology in healthcare delivery is accelerating. It is becoming cost-effective and accessible to consumers. The enabling technology, consumers' demand for information, and the economic incentives are more aligned than ever.
Internet technology offers significant benefits to healthcare organizations.
This technology can play a key role in enhancing communications and in supporting the streamlining of processes and the flattening of healthcare organizations. More knowledgeable decision making and intervention strategies will be integral to meeting the expectations of all members of the healthcare community of tomorrow. The Internet is no longer an experiment in healthcare. Rather, its value as a tool to aid medical communication, research, education, and quality of care is becoming widely accepted. The role of information technology in the evolution of healthcare delivery.