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APA Summit on Medical Student Education Task Force on Informatics and Technology: Learning About Computers and Applying Computer Technology to Education and Practice

Academic Psychiatry volume 30, pages 29–35 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective

This article provides a brief overview of important issues for educators regarding medical education and technology.

Methods

The literature describes key concepts, prototypical technology tools, and model programs. A work group of psychiatric educators was convened three times by phone conference to discuss the literature. Findings were presented to and input was received from the 2005 Summit on Medical Student Education by APA and the American Directors of Medical Student Education in Psychiatry.

Results

Knowledge of, skills in, and attitudes toward medical informatics are important to life-long learning and modern medical practice. A needs assessment is a starting place, since student, faculty, institution, and societal factors bear consideration. Technology needs to “fit” into a curriculum in order to facilitate learning and teaching.

Conclusion

Learning about computers and applying computer technology to education and clinical care are key steps in computer literacy for physicians.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UCDMC, Sacramento, California, USA

    Donald M. Hilty M.D. &  Peter M. Yellowlees M.D.

  2. Director, Division of Education and Career Development, American Psychiatric Association, Arlington, Virginia, USA

    Deborah J. Hales M.D.

  3. Department of Psychiatry, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia, USA

    Greg Briscoe M.D.

  4. Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Sheldon Benjamin M.D.

  5. Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA

    Robert J. Boland M.D.

  6. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA

    John S. Luo M.D.

  7. Department of Psychiatry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

    Carlyle H. Chan M.D.

  8. AATP, Technology, New York, New York, USA

    Robert S. Kennedy M.D.

  9. Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    Harry Karlinsky M.D.

  10. Department of Research, Vahalla Partners, Arlington, Virginia, USA

    Daniel B. Gordon M.D.

  11. Department of Psychiatry, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

    Joel Yager M.D.

Authors
  1. Donald M. Hilty M.D.
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  2. Deborah J. Hales M.D.
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  3. Greg Briscoe M.D.
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  4. Sheldon Benjamin M.D.
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  5. Robert J. Boland M.D.
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  6. John S. Luo M.D.
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  7. Carlyle H. Chan M.D.
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  8. Robert S. Kennedy M.D.
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  9. Harry Karlinsky M.D.
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  10. Daniel B. Gordon M.D.
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  11. Joel Yager M.D.
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  12. Peter M. Yellowlees M.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Donald M. Hilty M.D..

Additional information

The authors thank the following organizations: American Psychiatric Association (APA); American Psychiatric Publishing, Incorporated; Association for Directors of Medical Student Education in Psychiatry; Association for Academic Psychiatry; Association of American Directors of Psychiatry Residency Training; American Association of Chairs of Departments of Psychiatry; American Association of Medical Colleges; American Association of Technology in Psychiatry.

The authors also thank Nancy Delanoche, APA Office of Education; and Krisy Edenharder, Medical College of Wisconsin.

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Hilty, D.M., Hales, D.J., Briscoe, G. et al. APA Summit on Medical Student Education Task Force on Informatics and Technology: Learning About Computers and Applying Computer Technology to Education and Practice. Acad Psychiatry 30, 29–35 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ap.30.1.29

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ap.30.1.29

Keywords

  • Medical Student
  • Virtual Reality
  • Academic Psychiatry
  • Computer Literacy
  • Clinical Information System