The Walter Reed Army Medical Center Nephrology Service website: A tool formilitary-wide provider and patient education

Objectives: Military medical subspecialists consult with referring physicia ns, direct patient care and education, support isolated subspecialists, and maintain cohesive readiness plans, The World Wide Web appears promising in fulfilling these roles. Methods: A website providing directed resources, t he Waiter Reed Army Medical Center Nephrology Service website (http:// www. wramc.amedd.army.mil/departments/medicine/nephro/NEPHROLOGY/index.htm!), is described in the context of its role in military medicine and online publi shing. Results: The Waiter Reed Army Medical Center Nephrology Service webs ite provides educational resources for both patients and physicians worldwi de, It remains the only Army internal medicine website to offer online cate gory I continuing medical education credits free to military physicians, an d it also allows online graduate medical education, Conclusions: Military m edical subspecialty programs can use the World Wide Web to provide consulta tion and education to distant and isolated patients and providers in a prac tical, feasible manner. This process can be expanded to education in operat ional medicine and other military-specific medical topics.