This Virtual Patients lesson is relevant for medical students and professionals working in health care. In this lesson, you step into the role of a medical student and you work in a large hospital on a internal medicine ward. A 42 year old man, who works as a bricklayer, comes to see you. He has been getting sicker and sicker over the past six weeks. Are you able to make the diagnosis in time? Or is there perhaps a risk to the environment? Do you know which treatment plan belongs to this disease and do you know what you can do to protect yourself and the environment of your patient against possible contamination?
The lesson contains 22 cards. The cards provide descriptive texts, workplace information, chest x-ray photos, blood and sputum test values, expert comments, questions, and feedback. Often, cards present a task or question. After sending an answer, feedback is given. After passing all cards, you will get a red or green mark (enough correct answers). If you are following a regular course in Munich, a tutor can give comments. The lesson is given in English, German and Spanish.
General information about Virtual Patients & Work
The series of medical cases for medical students and physicians-in-training for Occupational Medicine has been developed by the Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine at the LMU university (Munich, Germany), often with the help of other institutes. The cases, developed in 2006-2013, are still present-day in many countries, and useful for education. Nevertheless, cases might be not up-to-date or valid everywhere, for example regarding diagnostic procedures, risk assessment tools, therapeutic interventions, or figures like incidence rates. Differences may be caused by differences in time periods, contextual conditions, or populations. Discussion about such aspects in a group, with a colleague, or with a teacher, is an essential part of the learning experience.
Practical. Clicking the link below connects to the Casus website. Make an account going to ‘Register’. Use your e-mail address as LOGIN, fill in a personal password. When registration is completed, LOGIN again, select if needed the English language (see, under your name, ‘Options’, ‘Language). Go to ‘Player’, you see ‘Courses available’, select ‘Virtualpatient-Work.Net – English course’. Select this case. You can complete a case once. Changing answers after completing is not possible.
