WASP--a generic web-based, interactive, patient simulation system

Computer based patient case simulation systems have during the recent years been introduced in medical education to allow students to "meet" more cases that are educationally optimized and adapted to the actual learning situation. However, three major problems exist with most computer based case simulation systems today: They are expensive to develop, experienced multimedia developers are needed for the development and teachers/clinicians can not develop and adjust cases to fit their own specific educational needs. The WASP project (Web-Activated Simulation of Patients) tries to solve these three problems, and still allow very realistic and highly-interactive simulations of clinical cases, delivered and edited via the Web. WASP is based on experience from a number of national and international visualization and simulation projects. Most important case simulation features are available, including: interactive history taking, complete physical examination (inspection, auscultation, palpation, percussion, vitals, neurological exams etc.), complete lab section including chemical labs, X-ray, MRI, ultrasound, CT, phys lab, pharmacology lab, pathology lab etc.), diagnosis and differentials, therapy, interactive session feedback and integrated references and online database sources.