Virtual Learning Technologies for the Digital Generation

Grand Challenges in Medical Education Increasing education efficiency – New fields: genetics, informatics A torrent or flood of knowledge … while retaining humanistic values Employing modern educational tools – “Authentic” learning situations - Virtual patients & Task simulations Team based work - by simulating the work world Developing metrics for teaching quality and learning outcome – Embed assessment instrumentation within each lesson

Human Patient Simulator: One-person exercises in simulation centers

More manikin-based learning: Multi-person exercises in a simulation center

Virtual Emergency Department : Multi-person exercises in a virtual world Videogame technology Online exercises One–, or Multiple ‘patients’ Real people log in and take roles Patient is a ‘robot’ that responds to commands

Virtual Emergency Department Users access ‘information’ and exercise ‘decisions’ through menu Patient physiology is small set of rules Interactive scenario is followed by debrief

30 medical students & interns Virtual ED Simulator (n=16) pretest case  4 training cases  posttest case Human Patient Simulator “HPS” (n=14) pretest case  4 training cases  posttest case Is the Virtual ED effective? Is there a significant difference between the two methods? Emergency Dept. Team Training

Comparison of Pre & Post Mean Scores Mean Scores Pretest Sum ScoresPosttest Sum Scores *Significant at p= HPS Group Pretest Sum ScoresPosttest Sum Scores Pretest Sum Scores Posttest Sum Scores Virtual ED Group

Pretest Sum ScoresPosttest Sum Scores *Significant at p=0.000 Average improvement between pre- and posttest was 23 % after practicing on four critically ill virtual patients Nine interns did the ‘right Dx & Rx’,... training in a Virtual World

Virtual Environment s... Mimic Real Places

Creating 3D environments for learning, practicing, assessment

Stanford Emergency Department PATIENT CARE with INDIVIDUAL CASUALTIES... training in a Virtual World

Stanford Emergency Department PATIENT CARE IN MASS CASUALTY EVENTS, & AMID THE CHAOS

What do EM–MDs and RNs think?... training in a Virtual World

In conclusion New educational tools are: Immersive and interactive Action oriented with role playing Representing authentic work situations Current learning technologies: Virtual worlds parallel the real world Afford practice with virtual-real patients – with physiology, at a low cost, anytime, anywhere Allow ‘what-if?’ scenarios that prevent mistakes and improve safety in the real world

Thank you, APAN ! Wm. LeRoy Heinrichs Professor (Emeritus) of Ob/Gyn / SUMMIT Colleagues at SUMMIT – Pat Youngblood Sean Kung, Robert Cheng, Kingsley Willis, Parvati Dev Colleagues at Forterra Systems – Laura Kusumoto, Arnold Hendrick, Steve Hanstead