Using a video conference to teach clinical clerks in a one-week cardiothoracic clerkship

Background Students report that their operating room experience during specialty clerkships has been less than satisfactory. To deal with this and other, roblems in a 1-week cardiothoracic clerkship, a video conference system was introduced. Methods Three teaching strategies were used: a seminar dealing with the disease process and a description of the operative procedure; bedside pre-operative assessment of the patient, with a tutor; and a live video conference of the operation. The tutor observed the live video presentation with the students, initiating interaction with the operating surgeon and facilitating questions and discussion. Video quality was maintained by one camera connected to the headlight of the surgeon and another placed above the operative field. Results Both students and staff expressed a high degree of satisfaction in debriefing sessions and on a standard faculty evaluation form. Conclusions This innovation in surgery specialty teaching contributes to the acquisition of educational objectives in the operating room and in a cardiothoracic clerkship.