A collaborative institutional model for integrating computer applications in the medical curriculum.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Informatics
• Curriculum Development

Background:

• Integrating information technology into established medical curricula presents significant challenges.
• Existing academic and technical support structures require careful coordination for successful IT implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and structure of the Taskforce on Educational Applications in Medicine (TEAM) at UNC School of Medicine.
• To outline the strategies and initiatives undertaken by TEAM to promote IT in medical education.
• To evaluate the initial success and impact of TEAM's efforts.

Main Methods:

• Establishing TEAM as a confederation of existing units and interested faculty.
• Implementing a mini-grant program to support faculty-led IT development.
• Organizing a symposium series on medical informatics and curricular IT efforts.
• Providing access to 20 computer workstations for students and a demonstration center for courseware evaluation.

Main Results:

• Successful integration of information technology into the medical curriculum.
• Exceeded initial expectations in achieving primary goals.
• Demonstrated collegiality and interest in TEAM activities, indicating conceptual success.

Conclusions:

• The TEAM model provides a viable framework for integrating IT into medical education.
• Faculty-initiated projects and collaborative efforts are key to successful technology adoption.
• The initiative has positively impacted student access to technology and course-relevant software.