COMPUTERIZED MEDICAL TRAINING SYSTEM

• US 20080020361A1
• Filed: 07/12/2007
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medical Cyberworlds, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Medical Cyberworlds, Inc.
• Inventors: Falstein, Noah, Kron, Frederick, Marsella, Stacy
• Granted Patent: US 8,469,713 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/262
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/28 for medicine
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems

Abstract

A method of medical training includes presenting a user with a medical scenario within a medical simulation in which the user plays a physician. The medical scenario includes an interaction between the user and a patient. Performance data corresponding to the user is identified. The identified performance data is based at least in part on an action of the user during the interaction between the user and the patient. The user is evaluated based at least in part on the identified performance data to determine whether the user has achieved a training goal within the medical simulation. The training goal is intended to improve a medical skill of the user.

Claims

1. A method of medical training comprising:

presenting a user with a medical scenario within a medical simulation in which the user plays a physician, wherein the medical scenario comprises an interaction between the user and a patient;

identifying performance data corresponding to the user, wherein the identified performance data is based at least in part on an action of the user during the interaction between the user and the patient; and

evaluating the user based at least in part on the identified performance data to determine whether the user has achieved a training goal within the medical simulation, wherein the training goal is intended to improve a medical skill of the user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing feedback to the user based on the identified performance data.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the feedback comprises a comment based on the action of the user during the interaction between the user and the patient.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the feedback comprises a consequence within the medical simulation, wherein the consequence stems from the action of the user during the interaction between the user and the patient.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning an avatar to the user.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an avatar selection from the user.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting the user with a second medical scenario within the medical simulation in which the user plays a second patient, wherein the medical scenario comprises an interaction between the user and a second physician.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified performance data comprises at least one of a diagnosis of the patient made by the user, a satisfaction level of the patient, a trust level of the patient engendered by the user, a question asked of the patient by the user, a response from the user to a question from the patient, a test run on the patient by the user, and an audiovisual representation of the interaction.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the interaction comprises an attempt by the patient to seek medical help.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the patient lies to the user about a medical condition of the patient during the interation.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the interaction takes place in a medical setting within the medical simulation.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the medical setting setting comprises at least one of a hospital and a medical clinic.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the training goal comprises an accurate diagnosis of the patient by the user.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the training goal comprises convincing the patient to follow a prescribed treatment regimen.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the training goal comprises achieving a specific patient satisfaction rating.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the patient comprises a computer controlled patient.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the patient comprises a second user.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the user with a teaser, wherein the teaser comprises a negative consequence that will be realized if the interaction between the patient and the user is unsuccessful.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the training goal comprises preventing the negative consequence.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving personal information regarding the user.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the personal information comprises at least one of a strength of the user, a weakness of the user, a profession of the user, and a skill of the user.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the personal information is used to establish the training goal.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the personal information is used to determine a characteristic of an avatar of the user.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the personal information is used to determine a status of the user within the medical simulation.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein an avatar representing the user within the medical simulation exhibits a real-world characteristic of the user.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising upgrading a status of the user within the medical simulation if the user has achieved the training goal.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising enhancing an avatar of the user if the user has achieved the training goal.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein communication between the user and the patient during the interaction is implemented through free form speech.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein communication between the user and the patient during the interaction is implemented through text in a dialog box.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the text in the dialog box is selected by the user from a plurality of text choices.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the plurality of text choices are established by a medical professional.

32. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the user with a graphical model of a feeling or emotion of the patient.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the feeling or emotion of the patient comprises at least one of happiness, satisfaction, anger, trust, fear, and nervousness.

34. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the user with medical information such that the user can make a diagnosis of the patient.

35. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the user with a diagnosis of the patient.

36. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the user with a truthful statment corresponding to an untruthful statement provided to the user by the patient.

37. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by a processor, cause the processor to maintain a medical simulation, the instructions configured to:

present a user with a medical scenario in which the user plays a physician, wherein the medical scenario comprises an interaction between the user and a patient;

identify performance data corresponding to the user, wherein the identified performance data is based at least in part on an action of the user during the interaction between the user and the patient; and

determine, based at least in part on the identified performance data, whether the user has achieved a training goal within the medical simulation, wherein the training goal is intended to improve a medical skill of the user.

38. A system for medical training comprising:

a medical training engine, wherein the medical training engine comprises computer code configured to

generate a medical scenario within a medical simulation;

present the medical scenario to a user, wherein the user plays a physician within the medical scenario;

identify performance data based on an action of the user within the medical scenario;

determine, based at least in part on the identified performance data, whether the user has achieved a training goal within the medical simulation, wherein the training goal is intended to improve a medical skill of the user; and

increase a status of the user within the medical simulation if the user has achieved the training goal;

a memory configured to store the medical training engine; and

a processor coupled to the memory and configured to execute the medical training engine.