The Internet impacts equine practice

The corporate world, small businesses, educational institutions, bankers, governments, publications, professional organizations and a growing percentage of consumers are committing more and more time and energy to the use of the Internet in their day-to-day activities. This is beginning to make a significant impact on our daily lives and in many ways on the way we practice veterinary medicine. If you don't see the difference right now, you will next year and for years to come.

For instance, the line separating phone and computer continues to blur, according to an Associated Press article about the recent Internet World Conference, held in New York. Featured at the Conference were thousands of products and services. Among these were products that let callers leave phone messages as e-mail attachments and others that allow subscribers to check e-mail from any phone. "We think voice is going to be the next wave of the Internet," Judy Radlinsky said, speaking for General Magic, a company which offers both services through its myTalk program. Jfax and eFax, which offer voice e-mail as well, have services that translate faxes to e-mail. These companies are working on the assumption that the customer is a moving target and they believe there is a great demand for products that make it easier to find people, and capture and get information. This is a concern for the busy veterinarian, as well as other professionals.

Shopping on the Internet is the fastest growing industry in the world. You can buy virtually anything on one of the many web sites set up to take your credit card number and send the product to you for arrival (generally) the next day. Some veterinary supply houses are conducting at least part of their business on-line. All indications are that more and more veterinary supplies will be purchased on-line.

Obtaining information is perhaps the most compelling reason for veterinarians to use the Internet. E-mail lists and chat rooms allow practitioners to discuss experiences with colleagues (see opposite page). A growing percentage of the veterinary literature is going on line, at least in abstract form. Organizations are using their web sites to provide information to their members and the public. The government has learned that the Internet is the fastest and cheapest way to make their records public. Merchants are using web sites to explain and catalog their products and services. Veterinary suppliers are no exception. If you haven't already seen it, check out the complete listing of suppliers of equine veterinary products and services at www.equinevetnet.com. This informative web site has a "yellow page" directory where the practitioner can find all the suppliers of a particular product by clicking on the appropriate category.

It is becoming easie~ to use the Internet. New computers, like Apple's Imac, are pretty close to "plug and play." Even a "70-year-old boy" can use it immediately. Using the Internet has become wireless, making it more convenient than ever. Novatel, whose Minstrel line of wireless modems is popular with Palm users, has just begun shipping the Merlin, which works on most PC laptops, to retail stores, according to a recent article in Time. The Merlin connects to the Internet using Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD). It works on the cellular network, and improvements in that network will make the modem more reliable in the future.

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