CONTACT: Kelly A. Little, President DRUG INFONET 315-498-5462 FAX 315-492-1740
Medical Information Launched
Drug InfoNet Organizes Internet Healthcare Data
Designed to provide consumers and medical professionals with up-to-the-minute healthcare information, some believe that Drug InfoNet will rapidly become the first-stop WWW site for cyberspace surfers seeking answers to personal and professional medical qu
estions.
The Internet, an expanding global network of computers, now spans 150 nations. According to a recent survey by Nielson Media Research, 24 million North Americans alone are already using the Internet. They access this information superhighway through compu
ters at businesses, schools and libraries, as well as from their home pc’s via simple telephone connections.
While some pharmaceutical and other health-related businesses have set up home pages on the Web, most of these sites, emphasizing general company information, are often more suited to prospective investors. And with more than 100,000 Web sites now posted
— that number doubles every 2 1/2 months — Internet users feel increasingly overwhelmed by information overload. Simply locating any Web sites offering medical news or advice is described as a daunting task by users.
Drug InfoNet, in contrast, was created to be a push-button gateway to a universe of healthcare information. Consumers may view their prescription drug’s patient fact sheets, plus physicians’ official prescribing information and drug interaction databases.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s drug and device recall alerts, as well as other regulatory news, will also be instantly available.
Ask the Doctor will be an interactive forum, in which users may submit medical questions for authoritative answers by a panel of experts. (Speculative diagnoses will be avoided, with questioners encouraged to seek personal medical counsel for speci
fic symptoms.)
Additionally, Drug InfoNet sponsors plan to develop detailed patient education sections, directed toward both acute and chronic diseases. Nutritional science will be explored, addressing popular topics.
It is also expected that healthcare professionals, including physicians, pharmacists and nurses, will be regular visitors to Drug InfoNet. Continuing Medical Education courses, with full accreditation, will soon be accessible by specialty. Courses may be
completed on screen, but more typically will be downloaded and printed for later review and submittal.
Edward S. Little, veteran healthcare marketer and founder of a major pharmaceutical research group, is the principal investor and Chairman of the Board of Drug InfoNet, Inc.
“It has been said that the World Wide Web is like an enormous library without a card catalogue. The problem is that all books are spread out on the floor, it’s next-to-impossible to find any information in this chaos,” said Little.
“Drug InfoNet will, at least for medically related disciplines, help users find a logical path to information they’re seeking. Whether this individual is part of the healthcare delivery system or a patient looking for answers, Drug InfoNet will be a valua
ble tool and resource.”
Asked how this healthcare resource will be funded, Little responded: “Drug InfoNet is accepting sponsorship contracts from major pharmaceutical companies. Because we will clearly label advertising messages, we aren’t concerned that content will be comprom
ised — just as in a medical journal or consumer magazine.”
Little also added: “In a climate of relentless economic pressure, decision makers in the healthcare industry must choose communication vehicles to their various constituencies with great care. Drug InfoNet is likely to be among the most cost-effective buy
s to reach practitioners and patients. We fully expect that Drug InfoNet will grow as fast as the Internet.”
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