THE ANATOMY OF ONLINE INFORMATION FOR PHYSICIANS

Online medical networked information (OMNI) is one of the newest and f astest growing types of information sources for physicians. The author s present an organizational framework for understanding the range of a vailable OMNI sources and discuss the practical applications, strength s and limitations of online resources. Physicians can now gain access on line to a wealth of information relating to many aspects of clinica l medicine and can consult interactively with colleagues on clinical a nd research questions. The limitations of networked online resources i nclude lack of access, difficulty in navigating online systems and the potential for fraudulent use. Networked online systems are growing in popularity and many become integral to medical practice as barriers t o efficient use are overcome.