Developing the eMedical Student (eMS)-A Pilot Project Integrating Medical Students into the Tele-ICU during the COVID-19 Pandemic and beyond.

Joshua Ho,John M Chandler,C William Hanson,Ann M Huffenberger,Lynn A Pauls,Krzysztof Laudanski,Michael J Scott,Lee A Fleisher,Philip Susser,Cindy Christian,Horace Delisser

doi:10.3390/healthcare9010073

Joshua Ho, John M Chandler + Show 9 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9010073

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Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the demand for virtual healthcare delivery and highlighted the scarcity of telehealth medical student curricula, particularly tele-critical care. In partnership with the Penn E-lert program and the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, the Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM) established a tele-ICU rotation to support the care of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The four-week course had seven elements: (1) 60 h of clinical engagement; (2) multiple-choice pretest; (3) faculty-supervised, student-led case and topic presentations; (4) faculty-led debriefing sessions; (5) evidence-based-medicine discussion forum; (6) multiple-choice post-test; and (7) final reflection. Five third- and fourth-year medical students completed 300 h of supervised clinical engagement, following 16 patients over three weeks and documenting 70 clinical interventions. Knowledge of critical care and telehealth was demonstrated through improvement between pre-test and post-test scores. Professional development was demonstrated through post-course preceptor and learner feedback. This tele-ICU rotation allowed students to gain telemedicine exposure and participate in the care of COVID patients in a safe environment.

Highlights

Telemedicine and virtual care delivery expansion is inevitable, and the COVID-19 epidemic accelerated its implementation [1,2,3,4]
One attending even remarked that the rotation was “much needed” and “forward-thinking”. This pilot rotation sought to provide a way for students to contribute to direct COVID19 patient care remotely under supervision while building valuable critical care and telehealth skills
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing a medical student tele-Intensive Care Unit (ICU) rotation during the COVID-19 pandemic

Summary

Introduction

Telemedicine and virtual care delivery expansion is inevitable, and the COVID-19 epidemic accelerated its implementation [1,2,3,4]. Current and future healthcare providers must be trained in virtual care delivery. 60% of medical schools surveyed by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) reported including telemedicine in their curricula that same year [6]. This number could be considered low as telemedicine is rapidly becoming a leading modality in healthcare delivery. It is unclear how these educational programs are structured and assessed for efficiency

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