Objectives
Upon successful completion of this continuing education unit, you should be able to:

1. Explain how patients are using the Internet to get healthcare information
2. Identify the major healthcare players on line
3. Describe some of the ethical issues associated with health information on line
4. Explain how patients are using the Internet in relationship to pharmaceuticals
5. Discuss how insurance can be obtained on line
6. Explain the impact the Internet is having on the knowledge-level of your patients

Much has been written about the impact the Internet has had on the Information explosion in health care. When use of the Internet began being the domain of persons outside the University research realm, there was lots of speculation regarding just how much of an impact would be felt in the health sciences. Many doubted that the world was really ready for a "paperless" environment. Some said that since humans first set pen to papyrus there was an innate belief that unless something is on paper or "in writing" there was a level of discomfort, even lack of credulity. Others worried about how copyright issues could be dealt with on the Internet. But most importantly, many felt (and still do) that with the dramatic increase of health information appearing on the Internet, there would be the inherent problem of information quality. The latter remains an issue, perhaps today more than ever. The health information explosion is happening so fast that the professional societies are scrambling to establish guidelines for content providers. Establishing standards and techniques for monitoring the quality of the information put out on the "Net" has become a priority. However, the general public does not always share this concern to the extent that health professionals do‹and herein lays the problem.

Do you, as an allied healthcare professional, know what the public is looking at for information about their health? Is the level of the public¹s knowledge regarding healthcare rising to the point where there can be a "threat" to you as a provider? Is the Internet having the same effect on healthcare as television first had on teachers whose students demanded Sesame Street level entertainment to go along with their education? This continuing education unit is intended to shed some light on this topic, and provide you with an overview of what your patient¹s are seeing on the Net, and what you can expect them to be asking you.