Interactive education system for teaching patient care

Abstract

An interactive education system is described for teaching patient care to a user. The system comprises a patient simulator, as well as a virtual instrument for use with the patient simulator in performing patient care activities. The systems also includes means for sensing an interaction between the virtual instrument and the simulator, and means for providing feedback to the user regarding the interaction between the virtual instrument and the simulator.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An interactive education system for teaching patient care to a user, the system comprising: 
 a patient simulator associated with at least one virtual instrument;    a processor operatively coupled to the simulator; and    a memory accessible to the processor for storing a plurality of instructions for execution by the processor, the instructions for: 
 generating an interface having at least one menu, wherein the menu includes a plurality of selectable options;  
 enabling an instructor to select at least one of the options from the menu; and  
 executing a scenario using the selected option, wherein the scenario enables the user to receive feedback based on patient care activities associated with using the virtual instrument with the simulator.  
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the interface is a graphical user interface and the menu is a pull down menu.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each option is associated with at least one parameter, wherein the selection of the option will alter the scenario in a predetermined manner using the parameter.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the selected option alters a level of performance expected from the user.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the selected option is associated with a training standard, so that the selection of the option imposes the training standard on the user.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the selected option is associated with a vital sign representing a state of the patient simulator.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the selected option is associated with a medication.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the selected option is associated with data representing a physical characteristic of the patient simulator.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the selected option is associated with an intravenous fluid.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a graphical display device accessible to the processor for providing the feedback to the user.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the graphical feedback is textual.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the graphical feedback includes a first image of the patient simulator and a second image of the virtual instrument.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the graphical feedback is a waveform.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising an audio device accessible to the processor for providing the feedback to the user.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the feedback provided by the audio device replicates physiological sounds, so that placement of the virtual instrument in a predefined area relative to the patient simulator produces an appropriate sound.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the selected option alters the sound produced by the audio device.  
     
     
         17 . A method for providing a scenario for teaching patient care to a user, wherein the scenario is associated with using a virtual instrument with a patient simulator, the method comprising: 
 providing a computer generated user interface;    selecting at least one parameter from a menu associated with the user interface;    executing the scenario using the selected parameter, wherein the scenario includes at least one activity; and    providing feedback to the user based on the user's performance with respect to the activity.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the menu is a pull down menu in a graphical user interface.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the activity is an adult critical care activity.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the patient simulator includes a sensor operable to interact with the virtual instrument, and wherein the selected parameter alters the interaction of the sensor with the virtual instrument.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the interaction is altered to correspond to a training standard.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising customizing the menu by altering the at least one parameter.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising: 
 detecting a sound produced by the user; and  
 selecting the parameter based on the sound.  
 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising enabling interaction between the user and the scenario based on a plurality of sounds produced by the user.  
     
     
         25 . A computer readable medium operable to store a plurality of computer executable instructions associated with a patient simulator, the medium comprising instructions for: 
 providing a user interface including at least one pull down menu, wherein the menu has a plurality of user selectable options;    enabling a user to select at least one of the options;    implementing the option in a training scenario associated with the patient simulator; and    executing the training scenario to enable the user to interact with the patient simulator in an activity defined by the training scenario.    
     
     
         26 . The computer readable medium of  claim 25  further comprising instructions for: 
 providing a virtual instrument for use with the patient simulator; and  
 providing feedback to the user based on the use of the virtual instrument.  
 
     
     
         27 . The computer readable medium of  claim 25  wherein the instructions associated with the scenario define an adult critical care activity.  
     
     
         28 . The computer readable medium of  claim 25  further comprising instructions for creating customizable selectable options, wherein customizable selectable options can be used to create customized scenarios.  
     
     
         29 . The computer readable medium of  claim 25  wherein the options are associated with at least one health state of the patient simulator.