Using media in rural clerkships

To enhance the educational value of rural clerkships for health professions students, the Biomedical Communications Division of the University of Nebraska Medical Center explored ways of providing instructional media to off-campus training sites. Faculty and community hospitals in rural areas were surveyed to identify appropriate topics. Videocassettes and slide-tape packages were previewed, evaluated, and purchased when acceptable. The packages were stored at Biomedical Communications. Off-campus faculty and students were encouraged to order media for use during preceptorships, but few took advantage of the opportunity. The greatest use of media occurred when packages were made available on-campus and students were encouraged to view them before or after rural clerkships.