Research is one are which has used computers very effectively. The growing popularity of the Internet has begun to change the way in which information vital to clinical work and education is obtained. Sue Hollander, assistant health sciences librarian and head of information services, conducts a class for second-year students on accessing and searching databases such as Medline or Grateful Med. She says students are becoming more aware of electronic databases and journals, and are gaining a high degree of Internet savvy. They can do in one afternoon what would have taken four to five days to do five years ago.
Technological integration is often problematic and always expensive.
Some students and faculty aren't prepared to use the technology for whatever reason. According to a survey Hollander administers to the students who take her class, a large majority have responded that computers are useful in many areas, from problem solving to self-education. As each new class of students is more likely to be computer literate, the demand, or at least the capacity, for computer-related activities is bound to grow. Eric Henley, MD, who teaches the Essentials for Patient Care course, says the use of computers in medical education and in medicine in general might already be a forgone conclusion. The primary agenda should be showing students how to integrate computers into their education and practices.