Funding
Clinical Encounters was developed by Clinical Tools, Inc (CTI) with funding from the following organizations:
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (Grants #N44DA65530, #1R44DA035042, #R44DA12066, and #1R44DA027245-01; Contracts #HHSN271200800038C, #HHSN271200655304C, and #HHSN271200900003C)
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (Grants #1R43AA020456-01A1 and #2R44AA020456-02)
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (Grant #2R44DK091144-01A1 and #5R44DK108608-04)
We gratefully acknowledge this support, which was the sole funding sources for this project’s development.
No Industry Support
All materials on this website were developed in an industry-fund-free environment. No industry funding was used to create this website or these educational activities.
Purpose
The Clinical Encounters: Decisions framework was developed in order to present replicated patient encounters in the form of a simulated EHR. The framework can present the common components of a patient encounter, illustrated through a simulated patient case, to allow the learner to discuss, assess, diagnose, and treat patient health issues. The framework is expandable and adaptable in order to only show relevant sections and also employ interactive learning opportunities in the form of quizzes, ranking systems, branching dialogue, multiple or single choice inquiries, and a summation of the patient experience. Our continuing education activities that utilize Clinical Encounters: Decisions simulations reinforce key points and protocols and supply resources in a separate summary PDFs.
Development
Clinical Encounters: Decisions was developed initially as a simulated EHR for the appropriate use of opioids in the use of pain. This led to the development of a framework for quickly creating cases on any clinical topic using a common patient encounter template. We have over 20 such cases in use as part of our education programs.
An epidemic of addiction to prescription pain medications now causes deaths due to overdose that outnumber automobile-related deaths, rising admissions to hospitals, and disrupted lives for both the patient and family.
Continuing Education Mission Statement
Clinical Tools, Inc. combines medicine, science, and technology to provide state-of-the-art online and training and education to improve patient care.
We strive to enhance the knowledge, skills, and practice of health care providers and trainees so they can improve patient health. Our standard incorporates the most up-to-date research and expert opinion. The company identifies content areas that are under-represented in current CME curricula, are skills-oriented and would benefit from internet delivery – including innovative uses of emerging technology.
Activity content is determined by analysis of gaps in performance, knowledge and competence, and patient outcomes, including national guidelines, best practices reports, user surveys, literature review, and consultations with experts. Our focus is on creating clinical skills-based training activities and evaluating each activity using metrics that relate to the targeted skills. Successful activities will improve competence, performance, skills, use of best practices, and patient outcomes. The impact is evaluated using both qualitative and quantitative methods to assure quality and to measure competence, skills, and behaviors essential to providing quality patient care and improving outcomes.
Clinical Tools does not participate in the delivery of complete and finalized training experiences. Nor do we participate when decisions have already been made regarding the practice gaps, content, delivery, authorship, or the assessment of the intervention. We only provide Category I CME (TM) for an activity when we are closely involved in meeting all of the ACCME requirements, including the collection, storage, and analysis of data on the impact of the activity on competence, performance, or patient outcomes.
Impact
Clinical Encounters will not only help providers enhance their clinical skills and test practice change, but also allow clinic leaders and healthcare organizations to implement a comprehensive continuing health professional development (CHPD) program.
Accreditation
Clinical Tools, Inc. is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Clinical Tools, Inc. is an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEPTM) and may offer NBCC-approved clock hours for events that meet NBCC requirements. The ACEP solely is responsible for all aspects of the activity.
Dissemination
Clinical Tools, and its gaming division Health Impact Studio, strives to share knowledge gained through the testing and use of its products. You can see our latest conference presentations, as well as our published research articles, at the Health Impact Studio site.
Future Plans
We will continue expanding our Clinical Encounters platform to strengthen patient interaction skills through hands-on training. We will also create the Clinical Encounters: VR platform, where learners can immerse themselves in a medical office environment and learn effective patient communication skills while interacting with a number of simulated patients.
We envision that our Clinical Encounters platform will be sold as a training tool for medical provider groups / offices in order to provide consistent and up-to-date education on effective patient communication, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment skills. This source of revenue will support any ongoing work needed to refine the platform and allow consistent group training for these providers.
Acknowledgments
Thank you to the numerous individuals who participated in the project’s formative stage development, and to those who send us comments and feedback about the site.
