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Health Educators Need More Tech Training

From online anatomy atlases and interactive medical websites to entirely new educational platforms, the rise in “e”, or electronic, learning in medicine requires users to successfully navigate different types of technology.

But this is easier said than done, leading many to ask: what’s the best way to address technical roadblocks in medical education?

It turns out that it may be different for students and teachers.

Previous research shows that increasing the use of educational tech increases learner confidence and achievement, but a recent study found that this “tech confidence” may not be enough for educators.

Instead, instructors need additional targeted training to successfully integrate eLearning tech into the medical setting.

The study, published in the Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, looked at medical professionals who routinely educate peers, students, or patients. Researchers surveyed the educators’ attitudes before and after their first eLearning experience to see how confident and “in control” they felt with the technology.

Confidence was used to measure comfort as a learner, and control to measure comfort as a teacher. Both are required to effectively integrate eLearning tech in medical education.

After the course, the instructors felt more confident, but less “in control”. This suggests that the educators felt comfortable using eLearning tech for their own edification, but not comfortable enough to integrate it into their teaching practices.

So how can medtech companies increase the effective use of eLearning in health education?

Offer guided training. Self-exploration is a useful learning tool, but not when teaching teachers.

Show your relevance. Forget the “marketing speak” and clearly explain how your product can help your client meet their daily and long-term goals. You may offer cloud-based, interactive surgical training, but what does that mean to surgeons and residents?

Provide continuous support. Whether it’s troubleshooting technical issues or showcasing new product uses, always be available to help and inspire.

To see how the BioDigital Human Platform is leveraged as an eLearning tool in medical education, click here

Top 9 Health Resolutions to Make in 2016

Get Moving- Want to start the new year with a better mood, boosted energy, and a reduced risk of heart disease and diabetes? Thirty minutes of aerobic exercise, 5 days a week, paired with strength-training twice a week, can improve your overall health and get you feeling your best.

Quit Smoking- Smoking cigarettes harms nearly every part of your body. It can decrease your immune function, lead to heart disease and stroke, reduce fertility, and is the primary cause of lung cancer in the U.S.

Drink Responsibly- Drinking a daily glass of wine has certain health benefits; however, excessive alcohol consumption can cause serious complications such as impaired brain function, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer, and cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver.

Wear Sunscreen Every Day- Even in dreary days of winter, it’s important to protect your skin from the sun. The sun’s rays can reflect off of snow, exposing you to harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation and putting you at an increased risk of skin cancer.

Eat HealthierIt’s the most common New Year’s resolution for a good reason. A diet low in cholesterol, saturated and trans fats, salt, and added sugars, can reduce the risk of chronic issues such as coronary heart disease.

Take Care of Your Teeth- Don’t always brush for the full two minutes? Forgot to floss today (or this week)? In addition to bad breath and a yellow smile, poor oral hygiene can cause plaque build-up on your teeth and gums. Plaque deposits can dissolve tooth enamel, causing cavities, or irritate and inflame your gums, causing gingivitis.

Give Your Eyes a Break-The average American spends 11 hours a day staring at electronic devices. Cut back on your screen-time, especially before bed, and reduce your risk of vision problems, headaches, and dry eyes.

Drink More Water- About 60% of your body is water -- it helps blood circulate, aids in digestion, and keeps skin elastic and flexible. Not drinking enough water can lead to headaches, low blood pressure, constipation, dry skin, and, some believe, may encourage acne breakouts.

Get More Sleep-Turn off the TV, put your phone on silent, and get some shut-eye. Sleeping less than the recommended 7-8 hours per night can lead to moodiness, decreased alertness, impaired memory, and diminished cognitive ability the next day. Prolonged sleep deprivation can have more serious consequences including heart attack, stroke, and psychiatric problems.

“Movie Magic” Brings the Human to Life

From the cascading wrinkles on The Lord of the Rings trolls to the suction cups and barnacles on Pirates of the Caribbean’s Davy Jones, one tool brings iconic on-screen characters to life.

Zbrush, a 3D modeling, texturing, and painting program, enables artists to create intricate surface details for movies, video games, design, education, scientific illustration, and advertisements. (Check out captivating Zbrush examples here ). Its features simulate molding with virtual clay, making it more intuitive for artists than other 3D creation platforms.

So how do we use Zbrush “movie magic” in the BioDigital Human?

Our 3D artists use Zbrush’s digital sculpting tool and real-life references to create the Human’s realistic facial features.

To mimic skin’s texture and color, our artists used Spotlight and Polypaint in Zbrush to paint details from a photograph onto the model.

Want to learn more about the creation of the BioDigital Human? Stay tuned for exclusive “behind-the-scenes” posts and videos.

Not Just for Techies: How WebGL Will Revolutionize Medicine

Already dominating the worlds of web design and online gaming, Web Graphics Library (WebGL) is a new interface that renders 3D interactive content directly in the browser without the use of unsupported plugins.

In other words, it makes it possible to explore realistic content online without leaving the page

While the benefits of WebGL (and interactive 3D) may be overlooked by those outside of the tech world, its applications, especially within science and medicine, are endless.

Here’s how WebGL will revolutionize the way we teach and consume health information:

No roadblocks between consumers and medical content

Since plugins aren’t needed, viewers will never be forced to “Update Adobe Flash Player to Continue”

Updates are easy and universal

Because the interactive content is embedded directly into a health website’s code, there’s no need to track down old versions of MOA or instructional videos

Updates are as easy and universal as making edits to a webpage

Faster load time

No plugins also means that there’s one less step between a website’s code for graphics and the graphics appearing

While it took a few years for all mainstream browsers to accommodate the new technology, the current consensus is that WebGL is faster than using plugins (WebGL is currently supported on Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer, Opera, and Safari. To see if your browser supports WebGL, click here)

Accessible anytime, anywhere

Did we mention there are no plugins?

72% of internet users looked online for health information within the past year, and that number will continue to increase as more consumers seek to truly understand their health

With WebGL, engaging medical information is accessible to anyone, on any device with an internet connection

Fast to deploy

With health content existing solely in the cloud, medical device & pharma companies, healthcare institutions, teaching hospitals, and general practitioners only have to build their materials once for it to be accessible across all platforms

Realistic graphics

By harnessing the power of your device’s graphics processing unit (GPU), WebGL utilizes the most sophisticated 3D visuals, bringing disease models, anatomical features, medical devices, and molecular pathways to life

Engagement, Engagement, Engagement

From industry stakeholders to doctors to patients, WebGL’s ability to captivate an audience is unmatched

Instead of sitting idly while watching an MOA video or trying to understand a static anatomical illustration, the WebGL user interacts directly with medical content. They can explore areas that they may need explained, while skipping over pieces that they know

More engagement = better understanding = informed decision-making

#scientific illustration #medical illustration #medical education #webgl

Explore “Parts” of the Body with Exploded View

What’s better than studying the intact human body? Exploring anatomical details and relationships in an exploded view!

Now available in the BioDigital Human, you can separate the parts of any view, from the bones of the skull

to the muscles and vessels of the heart.

The “Exploded View” feature is available on the rightmost side of the edit bar.

You’ll retain full interactivity while in exploded mode, meaning you can still zoom, pan, rotate, and select different objects. Exploded view works in our detailed medical conditions as well.

#human anatomy #webgl #scientific illustration #medical illustration #medicalschool

Be Prepared for the Zombie Apocalypse

This weekend, thousands of groaning zombies will slowly make their way through the streets. While they’ll be on the hunt for candy, not human flesh, you’ll want to start making preparations if a zombie apocalypse actually hits.

What’s the best way to prepare? Studying and understanding the zombie’s weaknesses. While this usually comes with terrifying first-hand experiences and a lost limb or two, luckily we have a tool you can use that’s safely out of the biting zone.

BioDigital, a developer-friendly API company, has created an undead version of their 3D human body that’s accessible online. Click through the decomposing brain tissue, zoom into functioning skeletal muscle, and witness the slowly-breathing lungs as you plan your counter-attack to the walking dead.

So channel your inner Rick and Michonne and explore the BioDigital Zombie today. But hurry, Halloween treats will only keep them full for so long!

#zombie apocalypse #halloween #brains #api #the walking dead #undead #zombies

“21st Century Grave-Robbing” Part II: 3D Interactive Tech in Medical Device Training

In Part I of “21st Century Grave-Robbing,” we discussed the evolving needs of continuing medical education (CME) programs and the new technology that can meet those needs.

Here’s a recap:

A deep understanding of anatomy remains central to medical education, but time in the anatomy lab is decreasing

New tech can realistically replicate anatomy on the web and in mobile apps, making anatomical content accessible to all audiences

Studies indicate that CME programs are more effective if they use multiple training methods to engage different styles of learning

Studies also show that 3D images are more effective at clinical training and diagnosis than 2D

3D interactive technology combines visual, auditory, and kinesthetic educational tools in 3D

Similar to CME, medical device training needs to be delivered in the most realistic, interactive, and engaging way to be effective1. But this can prove difficult since the medical device audience varies from patients to device representatives to surgeons.

So how can the same tech used to enhance CME address the concerns of med device training? The answer is through customization.

From building device models,

to detailing device insertion and removal, we tailor our content to meet the unique needs of the medical device industry--all in interactive 3D.

Hands-on dissections remain the foundation of medical education; however, the accessibility of interactive tech expands the reach of anatomical content to all audiences. By customizing the content of this tech to address the specific needs of medical device companies, 3D interactive technology has further solidified its position as the new “must-have” tool of the 21st century.

#medical device #medical education #scientific illustration #Clinical Training #3d technology #webgl #education #continuing education #technology

Why Should You Know Your Own Anatomy?

So you’ve failed another “how well do you know the human body” quiz online. But do you really need to know the difference between metatarsals and metacarpals? We think yes, and here’s why:

You’ll finally know the answers to weird bodily questions, such as:

What causes goosebumps? (It’s the contraction of arrector pili muscles in the epidermis) and

“What’s that tingling feeling I get after hitting my ‘funny bone’?” (You’ve hit the ulnar nerve, which delivers sensory and motor information to your part of your hand, ring finger, and pinky finger)

You’ll be healthier. While you may not (and likely shouldn’t) go on a crash diet or exercise binge, you’ll have a better understanding of how your eating habits and gym routine impact your body

As a bonus, you’ll also know why getting “8-pack” or “10-pack” abs is likely unattainable, since the “pack” is determined by the number of tendinous intersections in the rectus abdominis muscle

Most importantly, you’ll have a meaningful relationship with your doctor. By knowing the basic lingo of medical professionals, you’ll be a more informed patient and be able to discuss your health conditions and treatments in a meaningful way

Convinced that you need to brush up on your body knowledge? Use the BioDigital Human to explore your own anatomy and quiz your friends!

#education #online learning #elearning #scientific illustration

7 Reasons Why Digital Education is the Next Learning Frontier

Look around today’s classrooms and you’ll see that education has officially joined the technological revolution: chalkboards have been replaced by Smartboards, paper and pen by laptops, and textbooks by iPads.

Although you may reminisce about traditional teaching methods, here’s why digital education deserves to be the next learning frontier1:

Accessibility

Through websites, phones, and tablets, educational content can be transported out of the classroom, offering endless opportunities to learn.

Greater engagement

With the ability to target different learning styles, digital education can appeal to and engage a broad audience.

Independent learning

Educational tech programs can be tailored to meet the abilities of each student. Because of this, instructors can provide extra support to those who need it while keeping the rest of the class engaged and on-task.

Appeals to the “digital native” population

Students today are increasingly familiar with new technology. By using the same tools they use in their free time within the classroom, students are more motivated to learn.

Supporting resources for teachers

In addition to providing support to the student, educational tech provides resources to teachers so they can easily collaborate with colleagues and personalize content for students.

Learning analytics

By attaching metrics to digital education platforms, instructors can analyze and quantify learning activities, assessing student progress and guiding future lessons.

Easy updates

Digital content is much easier to update than printed text, keeping learners up-to-date with current trends and innovations.

#elearning #education #human anatomy #medicalschool #3d technology #interactive learning

BioDigital and the National Kidney Foundation Team up to Improve e-Learning

Problem: The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is an accredited provider that offers a variety of continuing medical education (CME) and continuing education (CE) courses. These courses allow health care professions to learn about emerging new areas in their field(s) and maintain a certain level of competence. NKF wanted to explore new ways of engaging their audience and build out existing content.

Solution: Course content is usually developed, reviewed, and delivered by expert faculty in key clinical areas. After listening to thought leaders in charge of NKF CME programs, the BioDigital team decided to use our Application Program Interface (API) for an advanced integration. Recent advances in BioDigital’s cardiovascular content allowed for a perfect opportunity to dive deeper into difficult subjects related to atherosclerosis. NKF referenced custom cardiovascular models via BioDigital’s embedded widgets into their previously existing content.

Results: Healthcare practitioners now have eight fully interactive models they can leverage. On top of this, we have the ability to track the usage of the BioDigital Human widget and have seen very encouraging results. The addition of this rich media on the NKF site also added a great aesthetic touch and enhanced the overall user experience.

#elearning #continuing education #medical education #webgl #national kidney foundation

8 Things You Can Do in the BioDigital Human, But Not in the Lab

Show and hide entire body systems By turning certain systems “on” and “off”, you can visualize anatomical relationships in a whole new way.

Remove a structure with one click No hemostats, scissors, or bone saws required.

“Undo Dissect” Unfortunately, there’s no “undo” button in real life.

Take notes on the body Save valuable notebook space—you can type “plantar flexion of the foot” right on the gastrocnemius muscle.

Rotate the body with ease Sure, you can flip the donor body over with help from your lab-mates, but can you see anatomy from this angle?

Explore over 500 health conditions From acne to Raynaud’s disease, you can see how specific health issues impact the body.

Save your work There’s nothing worse than dissecting the brachial plexus to see it ruined the next day. In the Human, you can save the exact view you want with bookmarks.

Share your Human with your classmates and social media following Easily export your customized Human to teach your study group, present a lecture, and impress your friends.

#education #human anatomy #3d technology #medical illustration

“21st Century Grave-Robbing” Part I: 3D Interactive Tech in CME

For millennia, educators have recognized that the best way to train the next generation is to have students complete the task themselves. This “teach a man to fish” idea is undoubtedly true in medicine, where the demand for realistic training is so high that employing grave-robbers in the 1800s became an understandable work expense. Centuries later, this demand remains.

While current medical education still centers around the dissections of bodies donated—not disturbed, the amount of time spent completing dissections is decreasing.1 At the same time, advances in 3D technology are ushering in a new era of realistic training tools that make anatomical content accessible outside the lab, expanding its use from first year med students to professionals in continuing medical education (CME).

Educating Professionals

Encompassing a wide range of ages and abilities, CME programs are designed to keep all levels of health providers—from trainees to veterans—informed and up-to-date. It’s challenging to introduce material that will resonate with this broad audience, but studies show that CME programs are successful when they present information in as many ways as possible.

Specifically, a recent meta-analysis of CME training found:

Visual media was more effective than print

Multiple exposures to the same content was more effective than a single exposure

Introducing content using multiple education techniques (engaging multiple senses and learning styles) was more effective than using a single technique2

The governing body of CME training reflected these results in its July 2014 report, additionally stating that written information should not be used to improve physician performance, denouncing the ability of printed materials alone to improve the physical actions of doctors3. 3D-rendered images, on the other hand, have been shown to lead surgical trainees to a more accurate diagnosis than traditional 2D CT scans4.

Case Study

To meet the growing needs of CME, we recently customized the Human platform to create a unique surgical training program for the myFace charity.

We developed:

A step-by-step guide for 10 craniofacial surgical procedures

Customized 3D anatomical models for each step

Options to bring up surgical video, voice-over from world-renowned surgeons, images, and 3D labels throughout the procedures

An interactive interface accessible on both mobile and the web

The result? The myFace Craniofacial Surgery Simulator -- a tool that pairs individual exploration with guided instruction to train med students, residents, and experienced surgeons before they enter the operating room.

In the past, dissecting recently-buried bodies was the only way that physicians could practice their revolutionary methods. While this need remains, the current demands of CME have expanded to engage multiple learning styles and reflect the technology that’s common in medical practices. 3D interactive technology has evolved to target these needs, becoming the new “must-have” educational tool of the 21st century.

Actavis and BioDigital Launch 3D IUD Training Platform

Problem: Actavis first approached BioDigital when they were launching a new IUD product called, Liletta. This product was entering the market place with other known competitors in existence, and the Product Marketing team wanted a unique way to differentiate this device and communciate the product's benefits. In addition, the Actavis clinical education team wanted an efficient way to train health care providers (HCPs), such as OB-GYNs, who were interested in learning more.

Solution: After hearing about other successful BioDigital partnerships such as Smile Train, where the BioDigital Human Platform was used for clinical training, both sides determined there was potential to use 3D simulation to accomplish the client’s goals. After about a month of storyboarding and working closely with representatives from Actavis, including the Medical Affairs Liaisons and Marketing professionals, the BioDigital team was able to develop specific animated content that told a compelling story. Over the next couple months, the BioDigital team worked in conjunction with the Actavis team to execute the agreed upon storyboard and finalize the website.

Results: Doctors and other HCPs across the globe now have an interactive website that they can refer to anywhere there is an Internet connection. Located off of their HCP portal, this never-been-seen-before product offers step-by-step guidance for both insertion and removal of the IUD. In the field, nurse educators are also leveraging the content on iPads and within slide decks, demoing to interested OB-GYNs.

The following video captures some of the solution:

#Actavis #Liletta #IUD #clinical training

The Future of Medical Understanding

Outside of dissections or the operating room 2D medical illustration has been the standard way students learned about the human body for almost 500 years. In the early 1500′s Leonardo da Vinci created his famous anatomical drawings based on his dissection of over 30 self-proclaimed corpses. In 1543, Andreas Vesalius's magnus opus presented 600 carefully woodcut illustrations based on his observations. Max Brodel illustrated for clinicians at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in 1890 and then in 1911 oversaw the creation of the first program in the country dedicated to this fusion of art and science. In 1936 CIBA Pharmaceuticals commissioned Frank Netter to create a fold up illustration of the heart. 50 years later Netter had produced over 4000 incredible illustrations which are commonly used to learn pathology around the world.

Now, with 3D technology ubiquitously available, the fusion of art, science and technology is quickly becoming the standard way we learn. The human body is 3-dimensional and illustration was unable to fully capture spatial relationships, depth and enable the viewer to see objects from any angle. Digital formats also enable interactivity which increases engagement, and therefore our capacity to retain information.

Now available on any smart phone or web browser, the BioDigital Human delivers anatomy and pathology in full interactive 3D. This format provides a better understanding of complex spatial relationships compared to flat, 2D illustrations. For example, in the BioDigital Human hand, you can rotate the canvas to see the depth of the palmar aponeurosis overlaying the thenar, lumbrical, and hypothenar muscles. Peel off layers using the Anatomy Tree or the Dissection Tool to quickly see what lies underneath.

For the first time, anyone can look inside the human body in a lifelike environment. Up until now, this knowledge has been limited to an elite audience with access to cadavers and the operating room. With the exploding demand for health awareness and medical education, people all over the world are searching for answers to their health questions and students are looking for learning tools to more easily consume information that help them stay on pace with the evolving demands of modern medicine.

#human anatomy #webgl #medical illustration #3d technology

Powering the next generation of Surgical Education & Device Training

Development of surgical technique is typically acquired through years of observation and practice on patients. The myFace Craniofacial Surgical Simulator, which will be released at the State of the Art Reconstruction and Transplantation Conference in New York City next week, is an example of how the latest in interactive 3D technology can help surgeons understand cognitive tasks and anatomical spatial relationships.

Funded by the myFace charity, the information in the simulator is based on over 40 years of experience teaching surgery by Dr. Joseph McCarthy, the former Chief of Plastic Surgery at NYU Langone Medical Center. The myFace vision for the virtual simulator is to “allow thousands of surgical residents, interns, fellows, medical students, as well as experienced surgeons, to go into surgery with more confidence and a deeper medical understanding.”

Until now online learning has been limited to primarily text and illustration. The potential of digital formats to engage, interact and measure user performance has not been fully utilized. The BioDigital Human platform was architected from the ground up to power the next generation of learning tools in medicine and has features especially useful for learning surgery in a safe virtual environment. Users can dynamically move through procedures with real-time interaction; rotate the patient at any angle; see through skin and organs to understand how to manipulate surgical instruments and medical devices typically obscured by anatomy. Studies show previous education formats such as textbooks, surgical video, or even 3D animation were limited to providing passive 2D experiences.

Unlike costly haptic or mannequin based simulators, the software can easily accessed on a global scale and updated with new content. It does not require any expensive or special equipment - it simply runs within a web browser or on a mobile device. The software can be used as many times as needed at minimal additional cost. A robust analytics engine captures data on the user interactions, providing feedback on performance and allowing administrators to make data driven decisions. The fusion of interactive 3D technology with cloud access provides the foundation for a new generation of immersive learning.

The 3D BioDigital Human Named “Best Health Website” at 2015 Webby Awards

Pioneering human body platform takes top honor in health category

BioDigital, developer of the virtual human body platform, the BioDigital Human, announced today that the company won a Webby Award for the category of Website: Health at the 19th Annual Webby Awards. The Webby Awards, presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS), awards the most deserving Internet-based companies with “Webbys,” which are hailed as the “Internet’s highest honor,” as per The New York Times. Webbys are considered the leading international awards honoring excellence on the Internet.

#the webby awards #digital health #webgl

INTRODUCING NEW MUSCULOSKELETAL CONTENT!

BioDigital is excited to announce the release of brand new musculoskeletal anatomy this month. Included in this collection, is our updated knee model, which includes highly detailed exploration of knee ligaments, cartilage, tendons, and bursae.

These interactive musculoskeletal models will be beneficial to many of our user groups such as orthopedic surgeons, chiropractors, physical therapists, and of course patients. A recent study found that a measure of higher preoperative patient knowledge and engagement with their health behavior was associated with better pain relief, decreased symptoms, improved mental health, and higher satisfaction after total joint arthoplasty.

#musculoskeletal #surgeons #chiropractors #physical therapists #knee #e-learning

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