EPC/IMPC Information Technology Subcommittee

August 6, 2002, Meeting Notes

 

 

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Present:  David S.  Resch, MD, Chair; Terri Cameron, MA, Staff; George Dunaway, PhD; Rhona Kelley, MSLS; Janek Koirala, MD; Regina Kovach, MD; Claudia McIntyre MS; Michael Shanahan, PhD; Jeffrey Suzewits, MD

 

Absent:  Rafath Baig, Class of 2003; Michael Bass, Class of 2004; Rodney Curtis, MD; Ryan Diedrich, Class of 2005; Gary Dunnington, MD; Scott MacGilvray, MD; Dean Naritoku, MD; Akshay Sood, MD

 

·         Educational Technology Sessions:  Rhona Kelley, Carol Thornton, and Fran Kovach will be the presenters for the August session on Presentation Software.  Since the use of other presentation software has diminished in recent years, the presentation will focus on Microsoft PowerPoint.  The focus on the session will be on tips on using enhanced features in PowerPoint and where to find design templates, clip art, etc., as well as design tips and using PDAs with PowerPoint.

·         Informatics in the Curriculum:  Dr. Resch directed the attention of the group on documents distributed for review prior to the meeting:  EPC discussions of this topic beginning in the early 80’s, a curriculum proposal developed by an EPC subcommittee in 1994 and reiterated by subsequent EPC subcommittees, and the report of the EPC Medical Informatics Task Force.  He also reiterated points made at the last meeting:

o        Medical Informatics is already a component of small group assessment in that tutors should be evaluating students’ use of resources in their self-directed learning.

o        An overall framework should be developed that includes exam questions that require students to differentiate between databases, references on PDAs, etc.

o        Existing activities that introduce and reiterate medical informatics in the curriculum should be documented as such and be considered part of the curriculum, rather than “tours” or “information sessions.”

It was noted that all previous attempts to implement a designated Medical Informatics curriculum have failed because plans were developed and disseminated by groups other than the year committees.  It was suggested that this effort start at the year committee level as a documentation of what is already being done, and determine what the interest is in expanding on those activities.  The consensus was that Dr. Resch would make a short presentation at an upcoming EPC meeting, with a request that year committees discuss and report back to him current activities that might be considered medical informatics.

It was suggested that, while the year committees are responding to Dr. Resch’s request, the IT Subcommittee

·         California Medical Student Computer & Medical Informatics Survey:  Dr. Resch directed the attention of the group to the survey distributed prior to the meeting, reminding the group that the survey was originally used by a consortium of California medical schools and this year distributed to and revised by the schools in the AAMC Western Group on Educational Affairs for use as the curriculum year begins this August.  Ms. Kelley provided a copy of the survey formerly distributed by the Medical Library each year.  She explained that students were no longer surveyed regarding their computer skills.  While there was some interest in participating in the WGEA survey project, it was determined that there was not enough time to implement this year.  It was suggested that subcommittee members continue to review the survey and provide suggestions for additions to Terri Cameron, and that the survey be implemented in Year 1 with the Class of 2006 in August 2003.

·         PDA Project:  A brief discussion was held regarding the use of PDAs in the Clinical Setting.  In light of recent faculty and patient concerns regarding the use of PDAs in patient rooms, it was suggested that students be notified that they should always explain to faculty how they would use the PDA in a patient room and ask if that is acceptable before attempting to use the PDA, and, if the faculty member approves the use, the student should then explain to the patient that they will be looking up reference information or taking notes on their computer.

·         The next meeting of the subcommittee is scheduled for Tuesday, September 3, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the Harbinger Conference Room in Springfield and Lindegren 310 in Carbondale.