CLINICAL MEDICINE CORRELATION EXERCISES USING A HIGH FIDELITY SIMULATOR TO ENHANCE BASIC SCIENCE TEACHING

David A. Wald, Gerald Sterling*, Jane Cripe, James Heckman, Jeffrey Barrett, Thomas Costantino, Michael DeAngelis, Nina Gentile, Joseph Lex, James Ryan, Ronald Tuma Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140 U.S.A.

PURPOSE: Use of high fidelity patient simulators is an important teaching modality to integrate basic science concepts with clinical medicine. We describe the implementation of educational exercises in the first two curricular years to bridge the gap between the classroom and the patient care setting.

METHODS: Faculty from the departments of emergency medicine, pharmacology, and physiology developed three basic science – clinical correlation exercises, which were implemented during the 2007 – 2008 academic year (complete heart block – MS I students, tachyarrhythmias – MS II, acute exacerbation of asthma, and opioid overdose – MS II). Each case emphasized the basic science principles (physiology and / or pharmacology) as applied to the management of selected clinical conditions. The exercises were taught in small groups with a basic science and clinical faculty member using a high fidelity simulator (SimMan®).

RESULTS: The basic science – clinical medicine correlation exercises were highly rated by all MS I and MS II students and were felt to be of substantial educational value in enhancing their knowledge of basic science, and integrating the knowledge in a clinical setting. In addition, all faculty felt that this approach promoted collegiality between the basic science and clinical faculty.

CONCLUSION: High fidelity simulators can be used in a multidisciplinary fashion to bridge the gap between basic science and clinical medicine. Because of the positive response in its first year, we are planning on expanding the program to include six basic science – clinical medicine correlation exercises (three MS I, three MS II) during the 2008 – 2009 academic year.