Integrating the Internet into Your Clinical Practice
http://www.fpen.org/allina

Track 1: Learning the Internet
May 8, 1998

Objectives

• Increase familiarity with the Internet and illustrate applications in patient care, practice management, and continuing education
• Introduce the Netscape browser and develop skills in using the most common functions, such as creating a bookmark and opening a location with a URL
• Develop awareness of and some skills using search tools and strategies for finding web resources
• Increase understanding of how to judge quality in web sites
• Introduce the basic functions of Netscape e-mail
• Learn what discussion groups are and how to access them
• Discuss security, confidentiality, and virus control surrounding electronic communication

Agenda

1. Introduction to the Web
   
   
   • Web basics: software, standards, and the highway
   • Browser basics: definition, buttons and pull-down menus, tips & tricks
     
     
   • HANDS-ON Exercise: Browser practice and site exploration highlighting applications in patient care, practice management, and continuing education
     
     

   
   Break (10 minutes)
   

2. Search Tools and Strategies
   
   
   • Types of questions: broad or specific, open-ended or precise
   • Types of tools: indexes, directories, and search engines
     
     
   • HANDS-ON Exercise: Locating resources

   
   

3. Judging Quality / Allina Library Services / Medline
   
   
   • Basic criteria for evaluation
   • Allina Library Services and access to Knowledge Quest (Medline)

   
   
   Break (10 minutes)

4. Electronic Mail (see e-mail handout)
   
   
   • Basic e-mail techniques
   • Intro to address books, e-mail filters and attaching files
   • Discussion groups
   • E-mail etiquette
   • Promise and pitfall of using e-mail for physician - patient interaction.
   • Basics of e-mail encryption and user verification
     
     
   • HANDS-ON Exercise: E-mail practice

   
   

5. Wrapup, evaluations, practice time