While healthcare facilities for emergency management, surgical intervention and care of the very sick will still be needed, information technology will increasingly alter how and where healthcare is accessed and delivered, according to an article on The Conversation website.

In the past, patient and clinician would generally need ti=o meet in person to exchange information, but the internet has changed that. Much health information is readily available so that patients can be highly knowledgeable about their healthcare options.

A growing number of health apps are available to support patients' decisions about those options. And social media provide an instant network of peers with whom to share health concerns and experiences, the article said.

Many pharmacies and other primary healthcare facilities offer point-of-care testing for use on site or at home. And the range and number of possible tests are expanding and coming down in price.

Read the article.