Information systems drive health care into the 21st century.

Beyond the initial cost of upgrading and networking computer information systems, outcome measures are diminishing in cost as technological advances occur. Physicians, labs, pharmacies, teaching institutions, financial monitors, and administrative offices can be linked electronically to communicate and share information in real time. With the aid of electronic databases connected by satellite, health care systems of the future will rely on a seamless network of information sources, forming integrated delivery systems.