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The virtual consulting room: a Web-based application to bridge the divide between primary and secondary care

We have developed a Web-based consultation application, the Virtual Consulting Room (VCR), in order to streamline patient care by facilitating communication between healthcare professionals. Thirteen general practices took part in an eight-week study. Fifty-eight general practitioners (GPs) were offered access to the VCR. No prior training was given. Use of the VCR was monitored by Web-tracking software and a questionnaire was used to assess utility. Thirty-four GPs (59%) accessed the VCR, 19 (33%) consulted on three or more occasions. A total of 177 visits were made and 35,244 Web page hits recorded. Questionnaire responses were received from 31 GPs (53%). Of the respondents, 17 classified themselves as users. Of these, 14 (82%) found the VCR easy to use and 15 (88%) found it to be a good learning tool with potential to alter practice. The results provide evidence that an Internet-based application can be of interest to GPs, can be educational and may influence patient care.