title: Designing a medical Web site.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A web site is a valuable shop window for any medical unit with something to sell or something to say.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this report is to outline the basic steps of web page design for the individual or unit with limited financial resources.
  
  
  METHODS
  There are two ways of designing a web site. A reputable web design company can be employed, but this is usually expensive. Alternatively, a web site can be designed in-house using commercial software, following a few simple steps. The basic requirements are a personal computer, software that is available on most computers and access to a few peripheral items of hardware. An outline of the page design should first be put down on paper. This can be transferred to a computer file using a web page design program. This file is then sent to a server for publication on the World Wide Web (WWW).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Designing and publishing a web page can take time and effort, but the rewards can be great and the results will reflect the message and motto of the unit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, James Connolly Memorial Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin, Ireland. markgrannell@eircom.net
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Grannell
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mansoor
authors.forename: T N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services; D020407:Internet; D009862:Online Systems