The Internal Medicine Center—an integrated solution for information on internal medicine on the World Wide Web

Abstract

The World Wide Web (WWW) has grown from being a resource center for a select group of scientists to a large database of information that is available to both professionals and public. The amount of medical information on the Web has been increasing exponentially and thus, it has become increasingly difficult for anyone to be able to search for a specific quantum of information among this mass. Even in mid 1996, it was noted that the amount of information on internal medicine was growing rapidly. Hence, on 21 March 1997, the Internal Medicine Center (IMC) was created and launched. The IMC is an unique concept and it represents the first time that medical data on the web has been organized into a form that intimately parallels clinical medicine. The rationale behind the creation of the IMC can be summarized in three words: information, speed and convenience. The interface used by this center reflects these goals because overuse of large image files are avoided, hence decreasing the access time and yet keeping the information in an easily comprehensible manner. In conclusion, the IMC serves as a useful tool for the layman as well as the expert because the comprehensive information that it offers can be accessed rapidly and conveniently.