Integrating Telemedicine Training into the Graduate Medical Education Curriculum

The primary objective of this study was to examine current emergency medicine resident knowledge of telemedicine, expose residents to standardized telemedicine patients virtually, and analyze the effectiveness of telemedicine training on completing a successful encounter. emergency medicine residents first underwent a virtual standardized telemedicine encounter using the ZoomTM telecommunications application without prior training in telemedicine. Standardized patients were then queried on resident success during this untrained encounter using a survey with aspects of a successful telemedicine encounter. The following session involved a lecture by a telemedicine physician. After this intervention, the residents underwent a repeat virtual encounter, with standardized patients responding to the same questions on the fundamental aspects of a successful interview. Residents also underwent a post-survey on their experiences with the training. Statistically significant differences were noted on aspects of the encounter related to obtaining informed consent (0% vs. 61%, p = 0.00012), asking about privacy in the patient’s environment (6% vs. 87%, p <0.00001), verifying name and/or date of birth (29% vs. 94%, p =0.00014), explaining the telehealth process and expectations to the patient (0% vs. 94%, p <0.00001). No statistical significance was seen with: resident introducing themselves (94% vs. 100%, p =.31732), asking focused questions about medical condition (100% vs. 100% p = 1), closing the encounter by explaining care plan (94% vs. 94%, p = 1). Overall, emergency medicine residents had significant improvement on aspects of an encounter with a standardized patient that were unique to telemedicine after undergoing training from an expert in the field. Similar training could easily be utilized across the country in emergency medicine residencies. This training could prove to be essential in the future because of the global health crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also for rural emergency patient care and remote educational programs.