A Rich Content “Everyday” Application in Clinical Education

David R. Bolling, MD; Gary F. Guest, DDS

University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Abstract:

As the computer-based patient record (CPR) takes its place in the new clinical record paradigm, a new challenge has arisen in clinical education.

Since the clinician's data entry is integral to the patient record in the CPR, the clinician of the future will need to be familiar and trained with electronic patient data entry. The goal of this study is to test the acceptance by student and faculty of an application (Purkinje DCI Educational Version - PEV) to allow entry of all patient history and physical (H & P) data electronically. The application (PEV) was installed in two computers at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Dental School; one group (10) of third year students was trained in the use of the application and instructed to use it for data entry and clinical reference. The application worked without incident in the 57 (20) episodes of data entry. The student and faculty evaluation of 6 prospective factors was positive in 5 of 6. The negative factor was that the application was more robust than the dental students needed. The UTHSCSA Dental School has not implemented full H & P collection by its students. The study confirms the short learning curve for students, the dependability of the installation and the application, and the acceptance by students and faculty, although of limited value to the dental student not required to do a full H&P.

Benefit in Attending Session:

A working application for clinician electronic data entry training and history and physical teaching for medical, dental, nursing students is presented. The data and insights from a pilot study at the UTHSCSA Dental School are posted. Inferences for advances in clinical education are discussed.

PRIMARY AUTHOR'S INFORMATION

David R. Bolling, MD

470 S 1300 E Su 1205

Salt Lake City, UT 84102

Telephone Number: 801-403-4445

Fax Number: 617-344-2423

E-mail Address: bollingmd@aol.com

Web Site: http://members.aol.com/bollingmd/resume1/index2.htm

CO-AUTHORS' INFORMATION

Gary F. Guest, DDS

UTHSCSA Dental School

Division of Dental Diagnostic Science

Telephone Number(s): 210-567-3360

E-mail Address(es): guest@uthscsa.edu