The digital divide -- the gap between technology haves and have nots -- can present serious barriers to information access, and health care is no exception.

To remedy this, the National Cancer Institute has awarded one of four grants totaling nearly $1 million to the Cancer Information Service (CIS) of New York to set up Internet-based cancer information services for minority communities.

CIS New York is based at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. The new "Bridging the Digital Divide Project: Your Access to Cancer Information" will be based in Harlem and will draw on a number of nonprofit and private groups to offer instruction on using online resources so local residents can learn more about cancer detection, prevention and treatment.

At least 50 million Americans -- 20 percent of the country’s population -- can't access health information on the Internet because they don't have computer access or face other education and literacy issues, the NCI reports.

"The program is very promising because long after this grant expires, it will still be out in the community," said Rosemarie Slevin Perocchia, director of CIS New York. "The program will continue to grow and develop, enabling thousands of people to take control of their own health through knowledge."

Perocchia's group is developing workshop curriculum and instructor training programs for the community organizations. Workshops at each partner site will then help local residents and health care professionals access Internet-based information. A Web-based training site will also be available for use.

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