Information technology

Health care environments are increasingly reliant on information technology and it is essential that medical practitioners are familiar with IT. The size of the information base that informs the proper practice of medicine requires doctors to be able to perform efficient searches of the medical literature to determine best practice. Throughout the program, information technology is used to deliver the teaching and learning and to provide a means by which students can access medical literature and databases. These resources include text descriptions and outlines of the problems and associated lectures and laboratory sessions, moving and still medical images (radiology, pathology, histology, etc.), clinical data relevant to the problem of the week, Internet sites related to the problem, and on-line self-assessment questions and answers.

Computers are provided in each of the tutorial rooms, the medical library and specialised computer laboratories, as well as in the more traditional practical laboratories and museums. Computers are also provided in the clinical schools to allow students to access all of the learning resources both on and off campus. Communication between students and teachers is facilitated through the use of electronic mail and electronic forums. Some reports and assignments may also be submitted electronically. To ensure appropriate training in the use of these technologies, a guiding principle has been to deploy computers in a way which reinforces their use in current and future clinical settings.

For information about the IT that underpins the Medicial Program see Information Technology in the Product Showcase