Why did we create a virtual EMR?

We have been asked why we did not link directly into a real EMR? After all, many vendors provide a sandbox or safe play area in which to learn about their systems.

Our research in this area has shown a number of drawbacks to that method. But more importantly, in developing this approach, a number of benefits have arisen:

1. We are able to monitor closely, using the OpenLabyrinth virtual patient engine, exactly where our learners go in the system, how long they take, where they get stuck and how they compare with experts and peers. Real EMRs cannot easily do this.
2. The evaluations allow us to not only improve our learners but also to improve our cases, fixing areas where learners are not supposed to get stuck.
3. Because navigation around the virtual EMR can be constrained in a number of ways, using OpenLabyrinth's internal logic, we are able to restrict access to irrelevant areas of the EMR, only open up access to other sections in a pre-determined sequence, and generally keep the learner's attention focused on key features, without having to appear overly bossy.
4. We can more easily engage learners in answering key questions or entering data into the EMR, without having to repeatedly go back and clean up the EMR sandbox datasets. Entered data is kept separate from the underlying EMR tables, greatly reducing the maintenance work required on the sandbox.

How to navigate our Virtual EMR sections