Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) has partnered with VisualDx, a renowned web-based clinical decision support system, to enhance medical education. This collaboration aims to provide students and faculty with access to a comprehensive database of clinical data and images that represent diverse patient populations, thereby promoting equitable healthcare.
The Challenge:
Medical education often faces teaching biases and structural biases in healthcare practices, predominantly based on White male populations. This results in knowledge gaps concerning disease presentations, treatment, and outcomes in patients with diverse skin colors.
To bring positive change to the medical care provided to Black, Latinx, and other patients with non-white skin, we need to change the way medical education is being taught. Our students must have access to technologies and leadership training that ensure they become health professionals who provide care that is reflective, inclusive, and equitable.
—John T. Langell, MD, PhD, MP.H, MBA, President of NEOMED
The VisualDx Solution:
VisualDx offers a solution through its extensive image atlas and clinical reasoning tools. The platform includes the world’s best dark skin image atlas and the most equitable collection of disease presentation images, which are crucial for reducing these knowledge gaps.
Implementation:
NEOMED has licensed VisualDx for use by its students and faculty. The platform supports both classroom and online education with resources such as case vignettes and diagnostic image challenges.
The Impact:
- Enhanced Learning: Students gain hands-on experience with the same technology they will use in clinical practice, improving their diagnostic skills and clinical reasoning.
- Promoting Equity: By incorporating VisualDx into their curriculum, NEOMED addresses the existing biases in medical education, fostering a more inclusive approach to patient care.
These students are the healthcare providers of the future. Learning with the technology they’ll be using with patients is critical to their education and growth. We are excited to add NEOMED to our growing list of medical schools preparing tomorrow’s clinicians to provide the best patient care possible.
—Art Papier, MD, CEO of VisualDx:
The integration of VisualDx at NEOMED represents a significant step towards eliminating biases in medical education and ensuring equitable healthcare for all patient populations. This collaboration equips future healthcare providers with the necessary tools and knowledge to deliver high-quality, inclusive care.