Multimedia communications networks. Patient care through interactive point-of-care testing.

This decade will see a historical convergence of technologic and socioeconomic events that will merge interactive multimedia communications with longitudinal participatory health care systems. Diagnostic testing will extend from the home to the most sophisticated acute care settings. Point-of-care testing networks will resemble modern electrical utility power grids with workload distributed to optimize test turnaround time and economic effectiveness. Throughout the network, clinical and managerial information will be accessible as needed at all points of use. The networks will become "physician extenders" by allowing broad interactive geographic and mobile accessibility to clinical information in a context that maintains patient confidentiality and data security.