An XML standard for virtual patients: exchanging case-based simulations in medical education

Virtual Patients are computer-based simulations of a clinical encounter where the user plays the role of a healthcare provider while receiving in-context instruction. This unique pedagogical approach enables active case-based learning for learners. Academic institutions around the world have developed high-quality virtual patients using many different authoring and playback technologies. However, sustainability and scalability have proved challenging due to the number of cases needed and production costs. In an effort to promote sharing of Virtual Patients and broader adoption into medical education at all levels, MedBiquitous organized an international working group to create an XML-based "MedBiquitous Virtual Patient Standard" (MVP) describing a common structure for virtual patient content and activities. The MVP enables virtual patient exchange across systems, modification, and display within conformant player software.