Promoting e-communication-lessons from a feasibility study.

There has been a rapid uptake in the use of computers in general practice during the past decade. General practitioners initially used computers primarily to generate prescriptions, but have increasingly adopted computers for health record keeping. While most practices are now receiving pathology and radiology results via the internet, electronic communication (e-communication) between GPs and other health care providers remains limited. Making referrals, communicating to and from medical specialists and allied health practitioners, and obtaining important health information from hospitals and other health care organisations have all proven difficult to implement in electronic form.