Situational Awareness in Telehealth: A Virtual Standardized Patient Case for Transitioning Preclinical to Clinical Medical Students.

Introduction: Since the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth usage has surged and remains in high demand even as public health restrictions have relaxed. Telehealth introduces unique challenges to patient care, particularly in maintaining situational awareness and patient safety. Despite telehealth's widespread use, its training is still underrepresented in medical curricula. Recognizing these gaps, we developed a focused module to teach medical students about the significant differences between virtual and in-person visits, emphasizing essential communication skills and tools for situational awareness through simulated telehealth consultations.

Methods: Using a virtual platform, second-year (preclinical) medical students participated in a simulated telehealth visit during which they conducted a focused assessment of a standardized patient. While the chief complaint was a generalized symptom, the standardized patient had characteristics that suggested a more critical problem that would only be recognized with maintenance of appropriate situational awareness. Faculty members observed the students' performance and provided brief group feedback and discussion along with input from the standardized professionals.

Results: Over 2 years, 634 preclinical medical students completed the simulated telehealth session during a course dedicated to transitioning students to their clinical rotations. Feedback from more than 80% of the medical students indicated that the training was valuable and exceeded their expectations.

Discussion: Our innovative simulated telehealth consultation effectively enhances medical students' knowledge and proficiency in telehealth practices and situational awareness, providing them with essential skills for the evolving health care landscape.