Revolutionising the way medical students learn with new technology

Sydney based paediatricians, Dr Keith Ooi and Dr Michael Coffey, are set to revolutionise the way medical students learn with their new ‘Sims’-like innovation — PlayMed.

Paediatric consultant at Randwick Children’s Hospital and a Clinical Academic at UNSW Sydney, Dr Ooi said their gaming technology, PlayMed, is set to bridge the gap between the student and doctor.

PlayMed uses online experiential role-playing in a virtual hospital environment to help final-year medical students become better practitioners through experience-based learning. Students are able to apply their skills online by responding to various emergencies, and at the end they are delivered feedback on their decision-making skills.

In its first trial, medical students who used the video game during their studies were observed as having a 25% improvement in their test results at the end of a 4-week paediatrics course.

Dr Ooi and Dr Coffey’s innovation has been shortlisted for the PLuS Alliance Prize for Education Innovation, among a line-up of 10 other shortlisted candidates from around the world. The prize, which will be announced in London by the head of the NHS on 3 September, is worth US$50,000.

The PLuS Alliance is a collaboration between University of NSW, Arizona State University and King’s College London, working to reimagine higher education and champion innovators in research and education, in a shared quest for a sustainable future.

For further details on the PLuS Alliance, visit plusalliance.org.

Paediatrician and innovator Dr Keith Ooi. Image credit: ©Dr Keith Ooi