Computers a cornerstone of evidence-based care, conference told.

Computers are poised to become key players in the delivery of health care, but are physicians ready for them? A recent conference on medical communication in the electronic era examined the potential of computers to assist in diagnosis, provide continuing medical education, disseminate evidence and research findings, and simplify practice management. However, delegates were told that even though many medical practices are computerized, it is often staff members and not physicians who use the technology. For computers to gain wider acceptance for medical purposes, physicians need to be made comfortable with their use at an early stage of training.