Video teleconferencing with realistic simulation for medical education

This report describes how realistic patient simulation can be used with vid eo teleconferencing to conduct long-distance clinical case discussions with realistic re-enactments of critical events. By observing what appears to b e a real procedure unfolding in real time, it is intended that audience mem bers will better learn and appreciate the lessons from conferences. A comme rcially available mannequin simulator and video teleconferencing technology were used in nine sessions between a free-standing simulation center and d ifferent conference sites throughout the U.S. Transmission was via high-spe ed telephone lines. In each conference, a clinical scenario was simulated o n a screen. Audience members asked questions of live simulated "patient" an d family and later advised the care team on routine treatments and manageme nt of urgent clinical problems that arose during management of the mannequi n simulator in a highly realistic clinical setting. Ninety-eight percent of respondents from one audience of 150 (response rate 60%) judged the qualit y of the presentation as "very good or excellent." In response to the state ment that "the educational value of the presentation was much greater than that of a standard case conference, "95% scored 4 or 5 on a five-point Like rt scale (where 5 is highest agreement). While all conferences were conduct ed successfully, there were instances of technical challenge in using telec onferencing technology. Technical information about the teleconferencing sy stem and scenario preparation, contingency planning for failures, and other details of using this new teaching modality are described. Although audien ces were enthusiastic in their response to this approach to clinical case c onferences, further study is needed to assess the added value of interactiv e simulation for education compared to standard conference formats. (C) 200 0 by Elsevier Science Inc.