A small medical practice might need to dedicate a single computer to this purpose. A large managed care organization or health plan that invests in E-commerce can expect to spend hundreds of thousands, even millions, over months or years. Physicians can expect to be able to request and receive information electronically. Reports can be posted for printing and can be made available in spreadsheet format for the physician's staff to analyze. Health plan membership can even be verified at the time of service.
Health plans can post information once for all providers to review.
The financial benefits of E-commerce are dramatic. Just as some now check bank balances from phone or PC, physicians will gain access to clinical and financial information which, in the best systems, can be analyzed by their own staffs. Even patients will be able to receive copies of lab reports, fill out health surveys, or complete family health histories through web-based tools. Once completed, they could route these to other physicians, saving time, money, and hassle for the patient and the office or hospital staff. Timely access to information is key to E-commerce savings.