Health Sciences: Clinical Simulations

I have several specific ideas for using the capabilities of Second Life to enhance the teaching and learning experience in Health Science learning spaces – virtual, online, hybrid or face-to-face.

First is Clinical Simulations using an interactive, case study data set “worn” by an avatar. It’s difficult to put all of the details down in text, so the video capture, while of a very rough, hard-coded prototype written by an instructional designer/technologist (not a subject matter expert), demonstrates the concept.

At least two people, using their respective avatars, participate in the role play simulation: one as the Nurse and the other as the Patient. However, the innovation with Second Life comes as each avatar “wears” their role by dropping onto their avatar a case study folder that draws on data and images stored via the web and/or Second Life. When the Patient wears the case study, the shape and clothes of their avatar are changed to match the description of the patient in the study: relative height, weight, age etc. The case study folder is programmed to provide the Patient with notes describing their symptoms which supports their ability to offer specific details through the role play experience, and the case study folder also attaches to the Patient interactive “clinical buttons.”

Clinical Buttons, as I’m calling them, are small prims (basic second life objects) with programming that provides certain interactions and medical options when touched. For example, a right arm clinical button may offer, as the video shows, the Nurse several options when she touches (clicks on) it: check blood pressure, draw blood, give injection or start I.V. The programming for the button includes subsequent options and results as well, when appropriate: i.e. if drawing blood, for what purpose will it be tested? and, when tested, what are the results?

The optimal implementation is for the programming in each Clinical Button to be generic as possible by pulling all menu options, choices, subsequent tests and test results from an Open Content web-based database. This may enable a wide range of very powerful features. First, professors will be able to create their own case studies and content by filling out web-based forms that interface with the database. Second, faculty would then be able to browse the database to identify specific case studies pertinent to their course content. The case study folders can be programmed to listen for a case number once it’s been attached to an avatar: allowing learners to select specific, assigned case studies. Fourth, using images and sounds uploaded to the web or to SL, the simulations can return as results an image of a burn or the sound of the lungs breathing rather than a textual description by the simulation or by individuals participating in the role play.

Certainly, I do not assume that this is a completely original idea on my part; my ego’s not that confident ;-) However, I have searched the web using a variety of keywords and phrases to try to find any similar works in progress but have not been able to locate this sort of clinical simulation. I did find a video from a 2005 presentation that demonstrates the clinical role play possibilities, which is an element of the simulation I have in mind. Also, the SimTeach SLED discussion forum contained an October 2006 post that described a virtual hospital project that is/was looking for others working on medical simulations. And, I encountered a YouTube video of a build of a clinic along with numerous mentions of abnormal psychology simulations in Second Life. With that said, if you’re working on a project similar to this one (or any others I didn’t mention), I’d appreciate an email and a slurl to the in-world location.