Doctors Go Dot.Com

Need to consult with a specialist? Want a prescription written fast? New Web sites offer a stunning array of medical services online. Here's what's out there—and how to use it wisely.

By Claudia Kalb and Deborah Branscum

Dina Wildey of Owings Mills, Md., is one wired woman. She uses e-mail every day to keep in touch with family members, and she spends hours browsing the Web—especially the health sites. She's not just reading brochures. Wildey recently discovered that she could chat, free of charge, with a cyberspace doctor. Curious to know about the possible side effects of a diet drug, she logged onto AmericasDoctor.com and posed her question to an anonymous physician. Within a few minutes she received information about the product—enough to convince her to forget about taking it. "I think it's wonderful," she says. "It's quick. You can do it just about any time and you don't have to catch a doctor between appointments."

Health sites are among the Web's biggest draws. Last year alone almost 25 million patients reported going online, and that number is expected to reach more than 33 million by the end of 2000. Until recently the offerings have consisted mainly of support groups, reference materials and product promotions. But now, as demand for information grows and competition among sites intensifies, the offerings are exploding. You can go to the Web for a diagnosis or a prescription. You can put your medical records online—or learn, in a matter of minutes, whether you're eligible for a clinical trial. The possibilities are awesome—and so are the potential hazards.

Many sites now put physicians online to answer message-board questions or to lead evening chats about, say, arthritis medications. And a few sites are making docs available for one-on-one consultation. AmericasDoctor.com, launched last fall, offers visitors a private, real-time doctor chat at any hour of the day—and, unlike medicine on terra firma, it's free. The site's doctors—all salaried employees—take a two-week training course, swapping stethoscope for mouse to become what CEO Dr. Scott Rifkin calls "personal health librarians." Ask a question about a particular illness and an anonymous physician will direct you to reliable sources of information. But don't expect a diagnosis or any direct advice on treatment.

Other sites are more personalized, and pricey. For $195, Mediconsult.com's doctors, called "MediXperts," will send you a report tailored to your own needs after you fill out a detailed health history. Your lab tests will be analyzed and specific treatment options laid out. The report, several pages long, will also provide information on which treatment offers the best results. Still, like AmericasDoctor.com, it stops short of making diagnoses or prescribing medication online.

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