Lack of Resources for Web Development. Information systems departments in most health care organizations are not Web-oriented. They are underfunded and will be distracted, at least for the next 18 months, by the Year 2000 problem. Even when they are enthusiastic about the Web, health care organizations are competing with almost every other industry for scarce Web designers, technicians, and engineers. Too Many Standards.
Health care has many standards for electronic communications and transactions.
Too many, in fact. The parochial and vertically differentiated nature of standards in health care will inhibit the near-term development of electronic commerce in the industry and its move to the Internet. Consumer Health Information Services. Consumers will seek information from the thousands of Web sites dedicated to health and health care. A number of approaches, including ratings services and trusted brands, will help consumers sort through the noise.