Epic Care CBT

Joe Durrance, Tony Luberti, M.D., Eric Pifer, M.D., Mayland C. Reilly, M.Ed., MS, and Charles Bears, University of Pennsylvania Medical School, Philadelphia

ABSTRACT:

Flash based Computer Based Training (CBT) is a solution for the time intensive process of training incoming medical students on how to use the outpatient electronic medical record system at Children's Hospital (Hyperspace from EpicCare) and at the University of Pennsylvania Health System (EpicCare). Both health systems use an outpatient EMR from Epic systems. The CBT takes advantage of Macromedia Flash's navigation capabilities and also the application's ability to pass information between the Flash interface and a SQL server database. We are in the process of using these tools to develop a trackable testing component to the CBT.

The CBT was developed through the collaboration of the HIS groups at both Children's Hospital and University of Pennsylvania Health System. Screen shots from the two EMR's at the two institutions served as the backdrop upon which, instructional material was layered in the form of navigation, textual explanations, and visual prompts. The goal was to tie these screens together with Flash technology to closely match the look and feel of the application as well as match the hands-on training that has been used to teach students via costly instructors prior to their starting clinical rotations. Students are asked to log in with their PennKey user ID when entering the CBT allowing tracking of student use of the CBT. Using the "LoadVariable" function in Flash this identifier is logged in an SQL database and allows us to track how much time a student spends on the CBT module. The CBT is designed to take 20-30 minutes. Student time and scores on a basic EMR skill exam can then be passed to HIS to demonstrate acceptable training on EpicCare prior to starting clinical rotations. This is required prior to users receiving an EpicCare account.

The system went live in January 2003. The first sixth months of user data will be presented focusing on user acceptance and administrative value to HIS at Children's Hospital and at The University of Pennsylvania Health System

BENEFIT TO PARTICIPANTS ATTENDING SESSION:

The CBT has been of considerable help to the students by providing a practical "hands-on" approach to learning the EpicCare software. It is hoped that when the student reaches the clinical environment the learning curve on Epic will be lessened. Tracking student use of the CBT provides insight into the learning process.

Joe Durrance Suite 100 3450 Hamilton Walk University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia PA 19104 Phone: 215 573 4451 Email: mailto:durrance@mail.med.upenn.edu Website: http://cu2k01.med.upenn.edu

CO-AUTHORS: Tony Luberti, M.D. Eric Pifer, M.D. Mayland C. Reilly, M.Ed., MS Charles Bears