Abstract

Concept of the virtual patient AKUTNĚ.CZ is known since 2007 when Educational portal of acute medicine AKUTNĚ.CZ was established (www.akutne.eu). Since that time it was presented many times as conference abstracts, posters, oral presentations and full papers at national or international congresses and journals. Let’s have a close look at last four international journeys of our virtual patients covering three continents.

Keywords

Interactive algorithms; learning by doing concept; conference presentation

AMEE 2014, Milano, Italy

More than 3,300 participants (of which almost 300 deans of medical schools) from 93 countries around the world gathered in Milano Congressi Convention Center in early September, to think about the ideal way of teaching health professionals in the 21st century, all within the 41st conference organized by the Association of AMEE (International Association for Medical Education). The Medical Faculty of Masaryk University was actively represented in the programme of the AMEE conference in 2014 through the presentation of interactive learning algorithms AKUTNĚ.CZ® and their integration into the curriculum.

Many outstanding personalities in field of medical education appeared during lectures in front of education-eager teachers and students. Undoubtedly one of the most interesting plenary lectures was a performance duo Jonas Nordquist and Andrew Laing "Directions for change in the design of learning spaces for health professions: global insights," which gave the concept of concentration learning environment with modern teaching a new dimension. Subsequent workshop showed how to design or modify teaching space for the needs of modern teaching forms.

IASP 2014, Buenos Aires, Argentina

After Montreal and Milano, Buenos Aires became the next host city of the World Congress on Pain of IASP association, situated on the banks of the majestic rivers Rio La Plata and Parana in sight of the Atlantic Ocean. What was this Congress most outstanding feature, besides the fact that it brought together more than 4,000 algesiologists from all over the world? Yes, in 2014 it was just 40 years since the founding of the IASP organization by John J. Bonica and at the same time it was the annual 15th Congress of IASP.

What happened to us, therefore, on the South America continent? Favourable mild climate, excellent steaks and a huge agglomeration including more than 10 million inhabitants. Surprisingly, contrasts between poverty and wealth, so typical of this continent, were not so significant in Argentina as you might expect. Convention center was located in the Plaza Italia in sight of botanical and zoological gardens. Not only plenary session with excellent speakers were crowded, but this center offered especially exclusive spaces for the poster session, which became twice a day the most important area around the convention events. What a difference compared to some other professional events. Thousands of works focusing on different areas of research and clinical applications of pain treatment would be enough for a separate monograph. We have introduced algorithms AKUTNĚ.CZ on the field of pain management education.

ANESTHESIOLOGY 2015, San Diego, USA

Interactive algorithms AKUTNĚ.CZ also had the opportunity to be introduced to the world of anaesthesiology this October at the annual congress of the American Society of Anesthesiologists in San Diego. California's sunny climate and huge Convention Centre on Pacific Ocean coast created pleasant ambience for the largest gathering of anaesthesiologists from all around the world. There were five days packed with lectures, workshops, poster presentations, an extensive business exhibition and not missing Scientific and Educational Exhibition.

Within more than 20 stalls introduced here, there was one of portal AKUTNĚ.CZ, aimed to present the current 53 interactive algorithms - virtual patients and their implementation in undergraduate teaching of medical students and in young doctors training. They not only aroused interest among physicians involved in teaching at medical schools, but also in the students themselves or in biomedical engineers. The greatest amazement was evoked by a unique process of creation new interactive algorithms: in teams of students and physicians it is several-stage process and involvement of students helps them to gain really deep understanding of the treated topic. Also they appreciated the opportunity of widespread use of these teaching aids, also suitable for other health care students, refreshing lectures with "case from clinical practice" and in particular the availability of these smart tools - online without any registration or fees.

AMEE 2015, Glasgow, Great Britain

Our desire for acquiring latest knowledge in the field of new trends in the medical education brought us again after one year from Milano to Scotland. This time it was not the historic St. Andrews, hosting 2013 IAMSE conference, but at first glance much more industrial city Glasgow at the confluence of the rivers Clyde and Kelvin.

Team of authors from Medical Faculty of Masaryk University presented in poster section "Retention of Extra-motivated Students Who Underwent Learning By Doing Concept In Anaesthesia And Intensive Care Medicine", which was accompanied by an interesting discussion. It was focused on the point that students who underwent during their studies the concept of "learning by doing" with creating the tools for PBL/TBL on AKUTNĚ.CZ portal are in more than 50% of cases prone to remain in the field of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine. The use of this concept has been identified as one of the motivating elements keeping graduates in this field.

…. Let’s meet on AKUTNĚ.CZ…