Author and longtime health IT advocate Dr. Richard Reece, a Connecticut pathologist, calls virtual medicine--the linking of physicians with their peers and patients via the Internet and other telecommunications tools--"the lever that just might save independent practice." While noting that this kind of practice does have its pitfalls, particularly its uncertain legal status and the lack of reimbursement for such services, Reece says that that "the world is moving on Internet time." Those who don't embrace the new paradigms risk being left in the dustbin of history. Blog