RADIOLOGY ON THE INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY

PURPOSE: To explore the potential for the information superhighway to provide radiologists with new opportunities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Th e Internet was used as the communication and distribution medium. MOSA IC, a graphical interface, provided access for clients, and a computer was used to serve text, images, sound, and cine onto the Internet. RE SULTS: The system can be used to send reports and images to referring physicians or consulting radiologists; to provide a large database tha t is constantly available; to provide an increasing; collection of tea ching files; and to distribute interactive, multimedia teaching tools that can be used on any computer system. The use of the MOSAIC interfa ce facilitates interaction, which allows users with limited computer e xperience to access the system. CONCLUSION: The Internet can dramatica lly expand the ways radiologists interact with their colleagues. These preliminary results indicate that there will be great challenges and opportunities for improving care and teaching in the future.