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i-Human Patients Announces i-Human Expansion to Include Drexel's College of Nursing and Health Professions

January 19, 2016

Drexel University’s College of Nursing and Health Professions is completing the first year of use of the i-Human platform, from i-Human Patients, Inc. (IHIP), and is fully integrating it into its curricula for all online Nurse Practitioner (NP) programs offered via Drexel University Online.  Drexel uses i-Human simulations of clinical encounters to engage graduate nursing students from 31 states to master patient assessment and diagnostic reasoning competencies, promoting safer health care for patients. 

Historically there has been a gap between passive learning in classroom and books, and active learning in clinical settings where nurse practitioners conduct patient histories and diagnose illnesses.  i-Human solves this problem by providing a bridge between the two, allowing online learners to practice interview, data collection, assessment, and diagnostic reasoning skills in a clinically secure setting - a computer.

According to a recent landmark Institute of Medicine report, Americans will experience at least one diagnostic error in their lifetime, sometimes with devastating consequences. 

“i-Human enables students to learn by doing in a safe and fun environment. Individualized feedback and coaching helps them master the critical thinking competencies needed to become great clinicians,” said Norm Wu, CEO of i-Human Patients.

Learners access cloud-based i-Human via a web browser to simulate a complete patient encounter.  A virtual patient appears on their screen and Drexel students interact with it to take the medical history, perform a fully interactive physical exam, select and prioritize possible diagnoses, order and interpret tests, confirm the diagnosis, develop a treatment plan, and document the encounter.  i-Human gives feedback and coaching throughout, helping the student master the diagnostic reasoning process.  

Students benefit because they sharpen their critical thinking, patient assessment, and diagnostic reasoning skills before seeing live patients.  There are fewer misdiagnoses, therefore, resulting in less time and stress, better patient care, higher patient satisfaction, and ultimately lower cost.

i-Human’s approximately 350 case scenarios have been authored and reviewed by top educators across the U.S. Students can access them anytime, anywhere, on almost any device.

“With the click of a mouse, students use engaging virtual patient simulations to refine their assessment, diagnostic, and critical thinking skills,” said Dr. Brenda Douglass, assistant clinical professor, College of Nursing and Health Professions. 

The demand for Nurse Practitioners has risen dramatically, evidenced by U.S. News and World Report naming the occupation second on its list of the“100 Best Jobs of 2015”.  

This content was originally prepared for a press release distributed on December 8, 2015.