Medical Economics/Thomson Healthcare yesterday announced that its journal, Patient Care for the Nurse Practitioner will now be offered exclusively online at www.patientcarenp.com, beginning in January 2002. According to the publisher, the online format will give nurse practitioners access to clinical information with greater frequency and depth.

``The mission of Patient Care for the Nurse Practitioner is to encourage critical thinking, support clinical practice, and assist professional growth that helps NPs provide quality patient care,'' said Deborah Kaplan, Editor. ``The online platform enables us to offer timely information and more robust content, such as links to other credible sources of information, educational opportunities, and special reports.''

Popular departments, including Professional Practice, an exclusive column by Sally Miller, Ph.D., and Drug Therapy Q&A, featuring expert advice on pharmacological and prescribing information, will now appear on the web site. Special reports planned for 2002 will focus on gastroenterology, neurology, cancer in primary care, and preventive cardiology.

Registered users will have access to online educational supplements. In the pipeline are units on low-dose OCs, new treatments for male and female sexual dysfunction, and an update on managing menopause and hormone replacement therapy.

A board of distinguished experts in the nurse practitioner field will continue to advise Patient Care for the Nurse Practitioner. Award-winning editor, Deborah Kaplan, will serve as Editor of the web site.

The monthly print version of Patient Care for the Nurse Practitioner magazine will be replaced by the web site. NPs are offered free registration and may request email alerts of news items and new information.