Geriatric Telehealth: A Standardized Patient Case for Medical Students

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Telehealth
• Geriatric Medicine

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated telemedicine adoption, yet undergraduate medical curricula lack comprehensive telemedicine training.
• Telemedicine poses unique challenges for geriatric patients, including technological barriers and complex medical needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of a dedicated workshop on medical students' comfort with telemedicine encounters involving geriatric patients.

Main Methods:

• A 90-minute workshop combining didactic sessions and standardized patient encounters was designed for third-year medical students.
• Pre- and post-workshop surveys using a 5-point Likert scale measured students' comfort levels with telemedicine for geriatric assessments.

Main Results:

• Fifty-eight students participated, with 52% having prior telemedicine experience.
• Significant increases in comfort were observed for general telemedicine use (3.1 to 3.9) and for patients aged 65+ (2.8 to 3.9).

Conclusions:

• A focused workshop effectively improved medical students' confidence in utilizing telemedicine for geriatric care.
• Integrating practical telehealth training into medical education is essential for preparing students for future practice.