Introduction to Telemedicine for Pre-Clerkship Students Using Standardized Patients

As we transitioned our pre-clerkship clinical curriculum to virtual learning to accommodate student learning, we created sessions to educate students on what telemedicine is and allow them the opportunity to interview patients through a virtual platform. First year students were given a brief introductory lecture on telemedicine and how to use it in patient care, discussing differences between in-person and virtual visits. Students then interviewed a standardized patient that had a complaint following the organ-based pathophysiology course they were in, which is Gastrointestinal disorders. In our school, our students interview patients in pairs of two, however this could be modified to include more or less students. This resource includes a standardized patient story, an introductory sheet for students with the objectives of the session and a PowerPoint presentation on telemedicine.