Information technology (IT) holds the promise of delivering higher quality medical care at lower cost, with fewer errors. Yet the penetration of IT into medical practice is markedly lower than for other sectors of the professional service economy. Some argue that habit and tradition frustrate the rapid adoption of new technology. Others argue that IT’s potential to improve care is oversold.

Our discussion will focus on three aspects of e-Health: delivering health information to consumers online, delivering clinical information to physicians and practitioners online, and using information technology—including electronic medical records, hand-held devices, and email—to improve the quality of care and communicate more effectively with patients.