The Oxford University Press will put more than one hundred language
and subject reference dictionaries online as the first piece of
a larger project called Oxford Reference Online (http://www.oxfordreference.com).
The Core Collection, a single, cross-referenced database containing
all of the dictionaries, so far includes approximately 60,000
pages from the books. Following the path set by other reference
books including the Oxford English Dictionary and Encyclopedia
Britannica, Oxford Reference Online will be a subscription-based
service. Fees are $250 per year for schools, while multiple-user
accounts, for example libraries, will range from $395 to $3,000
annually. (Wired News, 28 March 2002)
IBM and the Mayo Clinic will develop a new database and information
system to assist doctors in making accurate, fast diagnoses and
carrying out effective treatments. The system will include patient
information from public and private sources, but only from patients
who consent to the use of their information. Doctors at the clinic
will be able to access vast amounts of archived data, which will
be used to see correlations between patients and test results.
The system will also be used to analyze genomic data, allowing
better courses of treatment. (Cnet, 25 March 2002) [originally
submitted to Edupage,
3-25-02]
Internet and e-mail may become integrated into the medical profession
sooner than providers and health insurers think; many patients
are eager to make appointments, receive test results, ask follow-up
questions, and refill prescriptions online. On the other hand,
some patients are concerned that their e-mails could end up being
seen by unauthorized personnel. Experts agree that e-mail is not
totally secure and that patients should ask doctors about how
secure their systems are, whether they would switch to a better
system, and what information should be included in an e-mail.
Health messages should also be sent only from home to ensure higher
security.
Doctors can free up more office time if they are able to answer simple e-mail questions, refill prescriptions, make appointments, send test results, and monitor chronic diseases through e-mail or the Internet. Some doctors have even begun referring patients to specific Web sites that address their questions about particular ailments. However, many doctors are reluctant to spend too much time corresponding with patients via the Internet, especially since the profession is often criticized for its impersonal atmosphere.(Consumer Reports, January 2002) [originally submitted to Edupage,12-31-01]