Consumer health websites have garnered considerable media attention, but only begin to scratch the surface of the more pervasive transformations the Internet could bring to health and health care. "Networking Health" examines ways in which the Internet may become a routine part of health care delivery and payment, public health, health education, and biomedical research. Building upon a series of site visits, this book: weighs the role of the Internet versus private networks in uses ranging from the transfer of medical images to providing video-based medical consultations at a distance; reviews technical challenges in the areas of quality of service, security, reliability, and access, and looks at the potential utility of the next generation of online technologies; discusses ways health care organizations can use the Internet to support their strategic interests and explores barriers to a broader deployment of the Internet; and recommends steps that private and public sector entities can take to enhance the capabilities of the Internet for health purposes and to prepare health care organizations to adopt new Internet-based applications.

Though the popular press has focused on Web sites that provide information of specific diseases, offer advice and mutual support, and sell health products, the research committee identifies many more applications of the Internet in health, including public health, biomedical research, health care finance and administration, and the maintenance of electronic health records.
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