Historical Perspective of Technologies Used in Medical Communications,Past,Present,and Future

Abstract

Medical communication in the pharmaceutical industry has evolved over the past quarter century along with advances in information technology. The medical information function within the pharmaceutical industry became a distinct entity in the early 1980s as the demand for systematic and organized information increased and the complexity of questions required more in-depth responses. Early on, literature searching was a manual process, but microfiche storage and retrieval systems improved capabilities. The use of the computer in the 1990s played a major role in transforming medical information departments, allowing for shared information, documentation, and electronic system development. Traditional paper-based methods of retrieving information from physical libraries has given way to digitized medical information from virtual platforms accessed via the World Wide Web and proprietary web portals. Likewise, communication of information to the end user has been transformed and is much less reliant on traditional delivery methods. New venues for real-time information sharing between the industry and the customer are on the horizon. The continued relevance of the medical information function in the pharmaceutical industry will rely on adaptation to new and changing technology and the ability to provide added value to both internal and external customers. While it is impossible to discuss all of the technologies used in medical communications, this article attempts to describe a variety of innovations utilized throughout the years.