Virtual Patient: Opportunities and Limitations Virtual patients are notoriously hard to author, adapt and exchange. Historically this has limited their uptake and utility, despite their being able to provide high quality learning opportunities. The MedBiquitous standards organization has developed a data standard for virtual patients to help to address these problems. A virtual patient is “An interactive computer simulation of real-life clinical scenarios for the purpose of medical training, education, or assessment. Users may be learners, teachers, or examiners” (Ellaway, Candler et al. 2006). The MedBiquitous Virtual Patient (MVP) specification has been designed to be sufficiently abstract and adaptable so that it can accommodate a wide range of applications. The MVP consists of five data components each of which can be accessed and assembled in a number of different ways. Developing an Open Standard A key dimension of the MedBiquitous process is the pursuit of an open standards policy. In practice this means that the development process is open to any materially affected party. Currently there are more than 30 organizations (academic, clinical, not for profit and commercial) represented in the MedBiquitous Virtual Patient Working Group. We invite anyone wishing to get involved to join the process. The standard is also free and open to anyone to use. Components Virtual Patient Data Personal and clinical data Similar to a clinical chart May include healthcare terminologies Draft schema available Media Resource Images, animations, videos, etc. Data Availability Model Aggregates virtual patient data and media resources for reference in an activity Enables progressive disclosure of virtual patient data and media resources Activity Model Integrates VPD, MR, and DAM into a cohesive learning activity Linear, branching, and free flow models possible Player Functional Specification Models core functionality Conformant player is included in the content package Where Next? The draft specification and schema are available through the MedBiquitous website. The standard is currently in beta testing with a number of groups (including Karolinska Institute, Tufts, and University of Connecticut) involved with piloting and refining the standard. Once beta testing is complete it will go forward as a candidate for a full ANSI standards registration. It is already the basis for a €1.4M cross European virtual patients commons project called eViP and coordinated by St George’s in London, UK. Components of the MedBiquitous Virtual Patient Specification Example of a Virtual Patient using Nodes to Deliver Different Paths through the Content Ellaway, R., Candler, C., Greene, P. and Smothers, V. (2006). "An Architectural Model for MedBiquitous Virtual Patients". Baltimore, MD, MedBiquitous The Development of a Data Standard for Virtual Patients Rachel Ellaway 1, JB McGee 2, Valerie Smothers 3, and Peter Greene 3 1 The University of Edinburgh and Northern Ontario School of Medicine, 2 University of Pittsburgh, 3 MedBiquitous ®