Introduction

In 2014, the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy and the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto collaborated to develop virtual interactive cases (VIC) to build advanced clinical/diagnostic reasoning skills in a national on-line learning environment. The goal of this project was to develop five virtual interactive base cases and 45 derivative cases for the NP Program using a curriculum integration framework(1). Cases were based on the top differential diagnoses in primary care(2), and the burden of non communicable disease (NCD) defined by the World Health Organization (WHO)(3) and the Lancet Commissions(4). Cases were developed and validated with interdisciplinary community partners consisting of nurse practitioners, pharmacists and physicians. A process to maintain case currency, shareability and transferability was also established.

The core VIC team members are listed below:

• Monica Parry, PhD, NP-Adult, Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Nurse Practitioner Programs, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto (Lead)
• Fareed Teja, MEd, BSc, Academic Information and Communication Technologist, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto
• Jana Lok, PhD, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto
• Carles Muntaner, MHS, PhD, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto
• Lalitha Raman-Wilms, BSc(Phm), PharmD, FCSHP, Associate Dean, Professional Programs, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto
• Azadeh Moaveni, MD, CCFP, Acting Undergraduate Director, Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto
• Sharona Kanofsky, CCPA, PA-C, MScCH, Academic Coordinator, Physician Assistant Professional Degree Program in the Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto
• Laura Istanboulian, MN, NP-Adult, Research Assistant, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto

Others involved in the VIC project:

• Debbie Finn, RN, PhD Student, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto
• Chantelle Nielson, Undergraduate Student Summer Research Program, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto
• Shabab Khan, Work Study Student, University of Toronto
• Melisa Gaspar, Undergraduate Student Summer Research Program, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto
• Esther Rosenthal, Resident, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto
• Khulood Al-Dabous, Undergraduate Student Summer Research Program, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto

References:

1. Motola I, Devine L, Chung H, Sullivan J, Issenberg S. Simulation in healthcare education: A best evidence practical guide. Medical Teacher. 2013;35:e1511-e1530.
2. Ponka D, Kirlew A. Top 10 differential diagnosis in primary care. 2006, https://www.ruor.uottawa.ca/handle/10393/12856.
3. WHO. Global status report on noncommunicable diseases 2010, http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2011/9789240686458_eng.pdf?ua=1.
4. Jamison D, Summers L, Alleyne G, Arrow K, Berkley S, Binagwaho A, Bustreo F, Evans D, Feachern R, Frenk J, Ghosh G, Goldie S, Guo Y, Gupta S, Horton R, Kruk M, Mahmoud A, Mohohlo L, Ncube M, Pablos-Mendez A, Reddy K, Saxenian H, Soucat A, Ultveit-Moe K, Yarney G. Global health 2035: A world converging within a generation. The Lancet. 2013;382:1898-1955.

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