THE VIRTUAL HOSPITAL - AN IAIMS INTEGRATING CONTINUING-EDUCATION INTOTHE WORK FLOW

Researchers at the University of Iowa are developing an integrated aca demic information management system (IAIMS) for use on the World Wide Web. The focus is on integrating continuing medical education (CME) in to the clinicians' daily work and incorporating consumer health inform ation into patients' life styles. Phase I of the project consists' of loosely integrating patients' data, printed library information, and d igital library information. Phase II consists of more tightly integrat ing the three types of information, and Phase III consists of awarding CME credits for reviewing educational material at the point of patien t care, when it has the most potential for improving outcomes. This IA IMS serves a statewide population. Its design and evolution have been heavily influenced by user-centered evaluation.