06/03/96 IS THERE A DOCTOR ON THE WEB?

IS THERE A DOCTOR ON THE WEB?

ON MAY 21, ORBIS BROADCAST Group, a Chicago-based producer of health-related television programs, plans to launch America's HouseCall Network (AHCN) on the Internet's World Wide Web. In association with the American Academy of Family Physicians, the National Health Council, the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention, and other health-care organizations, AHCN (www.house call.com) will be a clearinghouse of medical information for both health-care professionals and consumers.
Not only will the free Web site have more than 30,000 pages of medical information, such as the latest news about breast cancer, it will also contain a national directory of physicians that one can use to find a local doctor. Message boards and forums moderated by doctors will also be offered as the Web site develops. What's more, for households without Net access, Orbis says it is working on making the information available over a Touch-Tone phone.
EDITED BY PAUL M. ENG