Pediatric Informatics: Computer Applications in Child Health (Health ...

14 Supporting Continuing Pediatric Education and Assessment 199
educators can exchange evaluation data with accrediting bodies to simplify
evaluation of an activity’s reach and efficacy.
14.2.2 Standards for Discovering Relevant Education
and Information
14.2.2.1 Healthcare Learning Object Metadata (Healthcare LOM)
Healthcare LOM, a customization of a Learning Object Metadata standard (from
the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) ), provides a consistent
way of describing healthcare educational content and activities, including CME
activities. This description enables searching across multiple repositories to bring
the most relevant learning resources to practitioners as they need them. Ultimately,
point-of-care systems may educate and empower practitioners to improve clinical
outcomes. Healthcare LOM is designed to support education for many health
professionals as well as patients and caregivers.
14.2.3 Standards for Exchanging Healthcare
Educational Content
14.2.3.1 SCORM for Healthcare
Based on the Advanced Distributed Learning Initiative’s Shareable Content
Object Reference Model (SCORM) for interoperable online learning, SCORM for
Healthcare incorporates Healthcare LOM to enable interoperability of healthcare
online learning. SCORM provides a consistent way to describe, package and run
healthcare e-learning content and lets developers easily transfer e-learning content
across learning management systems. Because SCORM uses a modular approach
to content development, e-learning components can be disaggregated and reused
in multiple courses and contexts, saving development costs and time. Healthcarespecific
extensions in Healthcare LOM facilitate discovery of SCORM conformant
content for both learners and developers.
14.2.3.2 Virtual Patients
Virtual Patients are interactive computer programs that simulate clinical scenarios
for education and training. MedBiquitous Virtual Patient standards will allow interoperability
to reduce costs and enhance the quality of education and assessment.
The components include patient data, learning activities and multimedia resources
to define and create rich learning experiences.