In an era in which information is increasingly important, it is essential to develop strategies for systematic data collection and processing.

While relevant to almost all sectors of activity, this is crucial in the health sector, particularly in hospital units treating seriously or critically ill patients, as is the case of coronary care units.

The article by Rivas et al. published in this issue of the Journal describes the development of virtual tools for the systematic collection of information via the Internet on acute myocardial infarction, using a rigorous methodology, highlighting how such tools can be used for collection and processing of data on acute coronary syndromes (ACS).

Initiatives based on the recently updated Portuguese National ACS Registry, promoted by the Working Group on Acute Cardiac Care, are an excellent example of the use of information technology for the collection and sharing of scientific data, which have considerable value in an area of clinical and epidemiological importance in Portugal.

It is to be hoped that the initiative behind this article and others such as that referred to above will help to impress upon all those involved in care, research and hospital management, the need to develop and exploit the enormous potential of such databases.