Education online: A community preceptor computer network

Background: The Dartmouth Community Preceptor Computer Network (DCPCN) prov ides community physicians with (a) help in selecting and purchasing hardwar e; (b) a conveniens local-area-network e-mail system; (c) access to traditi onal library-related resources (e.g., card file, journals, text, MEDLINE); (d) Netscape(R) the World Wide Web, and the Office of Generalist Education (OGE) home page (oriented specifically to the preceptors and their students ); and (e) a clinical information system that gives referring physicians ac cess to their patients' clinical information at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC). Purpose: As medical education moves to-ambulatory and community settings, c ommunication among faculty becomes increasingly important. The OGE of Dartm outh Medical School has designed the DCPCN to (a) improve communications of curriculum to rural teaching sites, (b) enhance quality of community-based teaching experiences, (c) support community-based preceptors in their teac hing efforts, and (d) help community preceptors engage more closely with ac ademic medical centers. The purpose of this report is to explain some of th e processes that we used to accomplish these goals. Method: We measured the growth of this network by course-director use, acce ss and use of E-mail and clinical records, and community preceptor feedback . After 18 months, over 180 teaching physicians are connected to the networ k. We have defined and distributed a standardized set of software, provided access to a standard hardware package, defined reasonable customer support pathways, trained doctors and their staff and provided a consulting resour ce specifically for this population. Results: The use of the network has grown rapidly. Course directors distrib ute curriculum to community-based preceptors regularly and rely on the netw ork for student and course evaluation. Students are required to use the net work to access medical literature in the community setting. Preceptor E-mai l communication and access to computerized patient clinical information has risen substantially. Conclusions: Creation of this network has required collaboration among seve ral departments of Dartmouth College and the DHMC to offer hardware, softwa re, network systems, and computer and network support. The DCPCN has provid ed important benefits to the learners, course directors, and community prec eptors at Dartmouth. This system, because of its ease of implementation and use, will form the foundation for the introduction of additional tools to enhance and support community-based teaching. Copyright (C) 1998 by Lawrenc e Erlbaum Associates, Inc.