e-Health: a step forward but not without risk.

摘要

One of the many e-Health advantages mentioned in the recent article by Osborn et al.1 is the availability of clinical support systems. For example, they allow the majority of general practitioners (GP) to easily generate referral letters incorporating comprehensive patient information, including past medical history, allergies as well as current medications. The value of a current medication list to a physician is critical given the progressive increase in polypharmacy in our patient population and the risk of adverse drug interactions. In a sample of elderly patients evaluated almost a decade ago, 53% were regularly taking four or more medications.2 This figure is most likely to be much higher now.