Finding the Path: a World Wide Web-based guide for imaging evaluation of patients in the emergency department.

Finding the Path is a problem-based World Wide Web resource that provides algorithms for imaging evaluation of emergency department patients. This module is designed to guide physicians in the efficient use of diagnostic imaging modalities and their appropriate application to emergency department practice. The module is composed of interactive case studies that can be accessed either by diagnoses or as unknowns. Each case study provides a brief clinical history accompanied by pertinent physical and laboratory findings. Users are asked to choose the most appropriate and cost-effective diagnostic imaging study and receive feedback on their choice. Associated images, findings, and a brief discussion of the diagnosis are displayed. Each case is followed by an algorithm aimed at promoting efficient and cost-effective use of imaging modalities. In addition to its value in clinical practice, the database is a useful radiologic teaching tool for residents and medical students. The module is being used at a major university as part of the new curriculum for radiologic education.

The PartnerWeb Project: a component-based approach to enterprise-wide information integration and dissemination.

A component-based health information resource, delivered on an intranet and the Internet, utilizing World Wide Web (WWW) technology, has been built to meet the needs of a large integrated delivery network (IDN). Called PartnerWeb, this resource is intended to provide a variety of health care and reference information to both practitioners and consumers/patients. The initial target audience has been providers. Content management for the numerous departments, divisions, and other organizational entities within the IDN is accomplished by a distributed authoring and editing environment. Structured entry using a set of form tools into databases facilitates consistency of information presentation, while empowering designated authors and editors in the various entities to be responsible for their own materials, but not requiring them to be technically skilled. Each form tool manages an encapsulated component. The output of each component can be a dynamically generated display on WWW platforms, or an appropriate interface to other presentation environments. The PartnerWeb project lays the foundation for both an internal and external communication infrastructure for the enterprise that can facilitate information dissemination.

Collaboration using Internet for the development of case-based teaching files: report of the Computer and Instrumentation Council Internet Focus Group.

UNLABELLED: The Internet and particularly the World-Wide-Web is becoming a useful tool for the nuclear medicine community. METHODS: The Computer and Instrumentation Council of the Society of Nuclear Medicine convened an Internet Focus group to discuss collaboration using the Internet. The prototype application considered was development of case-based teaching files using the World-Wide-Web. Teaching file cases (clinical history, images, description of findings and discussion) on World-Wide-Web servers at different institutions are integrated using the Internet. The user can navigate from case to case using point-and-click hypertext linking. RESULTS: The initial experience with collaboration has been encouraging. An etiquette to help foster collaboration has been proposed. Development of quality control mechanisms and introduction of peer review were identified as issues needing further work. CONCLUSION: The World-Wide-Web offers great potential for new forms of collaboration. There is, however, a need to learn how to make best use of this new resource.

Inside BrighamRAD: providing radiology teaching cases on the Internet.

The Internet provides opportunities for widely distributing educational materials such as teaching files. Since a teaching file is both a tradition and a requirement in an accredited diagnostic radiology training program, many of the same resources can be committed to designing it for Internet access. The advantages include easier availability for the department residents and fellows, communication to a wider audience, the opportunity for networking and collaboration with other institutions during development, and making information available for more rapidly than traditional publications. Since material available on the Internet represents an alternative means of publication, all cases in an electronic teaching file, as is the case with BrighamRad, should be subject to peer review. A successful computer-based teaching file requires department-wide commitment of trainees and staff as well as additional expertise in multimedia instruction, computer-based graphics and design, image manipulation, programming, and database management. Quality efforts take time and require continual adaptation and support as technology and the laws and customs governing the use of electronically published material evolve. The process should be ongoing, and the departmental commitment must be long term and continuous.