E-pharmacy: improving patient care and managing risk.

While far behind certain other sectors of the American economy, health care will increasingly use information technology for content provision, communication, commerce, and complete integration of systems. In emerging electronically based health care systems, pharmacists have a great opportunity because of their specialized knowledge, accessibility, and the trust people have in them. A variety of technologic innovations under development will help create a safer medication-use system. Although consumers are increasingly using the Internet for health-related purposes, they need to be cautious when making important decisions using Web-based interactions.