Thousands of physicians are getting professional assistance from hand-held computers popularised by Palm and other makers. Observers say that utilising the new technology will soon spread like a wave throughout the medical professions.
Currently, the digital assistants are used for reference, writing prescriptions and keeping track of billing data. By referring to them, doctors can reduce mistakes such as prescribing conflicting medications and avoid thousands of deaths each year.
But experts point out that the market cannot sustain 50 separate companies and a shake-out will be inevitable. Also, various new systems must somehow be integrated with existing systems.
Source: Milt Freudenheim, Digital Doctoring, New York Times, January 8, 2001.
For text http://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/08/technology/08HAND.html
For more on Health Care Trends & Technology http://www.ncpa.org/pi/health/hedex7s.html
