Executive Summary
The evolving landscape of medical education demands resilient, adaptable technologies that enhance learning experiences and patient care competencies. Telegenz, an advanced virtual health education platform, was successfully integrated into a remote training module for developing patient assessment skills in medical students across various disciplines. This initiative engaged 85 students and 15 clinical tutors, incorporating a blend of real patients and simulated standardized patient (SP) encounters. The use of Telegenz redefined the paradigm for clinical skill development, reaching beyond traditional boundaries.
Background
The Challenge
- Geographical and logistical constraints often limit hands-on clinical exposure, especially in remote or resource-constrained environments.
- The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated the need for robust remote education solutions in health professions.
The Need
- Ensuring students acquire practical patient assessment skills, including history taking, physical examination, and communication, irrespective of physical location.
- Providing a safe, controlled, and scalable environment for practicing clinical reasoning and patient interaction across multiple specialties.
Telegenz Platform Overview
Telegenz offers a secure, interactive telehealth platform designed for education and training. Key features include:
- Real-time video consultations with patients (real and simulated)
- Clinical case documentation and peer review tools
- Integrated feedback and assessment modules
- Support for multi-disciplinary, team-based training
Implementation of Telegenz in the Training Program
Participants
- Medical Students: 85, representing diverse year groups and clinical disciplines.
- Clinical Tutors: 15, experienced in various medical specialties.
Training Workflow
1. Orientation:
Students and tutors received initial onboarding on using Telegenz, including technical troubleshooting and privacy guidelines.
2. Scheduling:
Sessions were coordinated for patient encounters—real patients for authentic clinical presentations and simulated patients (SPs) for structured, reproducible scenarios.
3. Patient Assessment Sessions:
- Students conducted virtual history taking and examinations under tutor observation.
- Real and standardized (simulated) patients presented a range of acute and chronic cases, including internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, and psychiatry.
4. Feedback & Reflection:
- Tutors provided individualized, structured feedback using Telegenz assessment tools.
- Peer feedback and group debriefs promoted reflective learning.
5. Documentation & Evaluation:
- All encounters were documented within the platform.
- Performance metrics were assessed, focusing on communication, clinical reasoning, and patient-centered care.
Key Outcomes
Enhanced Accessibility
- Students from geographically diverse settings accessed high-quality clinical experiences without travel or risk exposure.
- Scheduling flexibility allowed greater engagement with both real and standardized patients.
Skill Development
- Communication: Students improved confidence in remote patient interactions, managing information exchange, empathy, and rapport via virtual platforms.
- Clinical Reasoning: Exposure to a broad spectrum of cases enhanced diagnostic approaches and management planning.
- Professionalism: Emphasis on privacy, digital etiquette, and adaptability to telemedicine environments
Tutor Perspectives
- Tutors reported greater efficiency in providing targeted feedback and overseeing multiple sessions.
- The platform’s observation and recording functionalities allowed comprehensive evaluation of student performance.
Patient Safety & Standardization
- Simulated patients ensured rehearsable, standardized scenarios independent of local patient availability.
- Real patient encounters complemented this by offering exposure to authentic clinical variation.
Lessons Learned & Future Recommendation
- Technology Adoption: Early orientation and support are critical for user acceptance and minimizing technical barriers
- Hybrid Model: Combining simulated and real-patient encounters delivers the richest learning experience.
- Scalability: Telegenz’s model is highly replicable, offering potential expansion into interprofessional education and global health training.
- Continuous Improvement: Ongoing feedback from all participants is essential for platform refinement and curriculum integration.
Conclusion
The integration of Telegenz into remote medical education demonstrated significant benefits in delivering patient assessment training across disciplines. By enabling interactive, supervised encounters with both real and simulated patients, Telegenz supported the development of competent, confident, and future-ready clinicians. The success of this initiative underscores the transformative role of innovative digital platforms in shaping the future of health professions education.