BCBSA launches new internet resource for caregivers, consumers.

The Technology Evaluation Center (TEC) of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) has launched a new Internet resource to provide physicians, consumers and healthcare organizations with scientific assessments of medical devices, drugs and procedures, and to promote the use of scientific evidence in healthcare decision-making.

The Web site--available at www.bcbs.com/tec--offers a rolling three-year inventory of TEC assessments on a variety of topics such as cardiovascular medicine, oncology and diagnostic imaging. The Web resources will be updated as new TEC assessments are reviewed by the Medical Advisory Panel and published by BCBSA.

The resource is designed for easy navigation, offering 15 searchable clinical topic areas, keyword searching and access to summaries of assessments in process--those recently reviewed by the medical advisory panel and being prepared for final publication. Visitors can also sign up to receive e-mail alerts when new material is published on the Web site.