Internal Medicine Clerkship DxR

DxR Cases – Computerized Patient Simulations – Online Quizzes (WebCT).  You can access the cases from any computer with Internet access.  The web site for the cases is:  http://dxr.lhl.uab.edu/.  If you have any questions or need assistance, contact Parekha Yedla, MD: email address yedlap@uasomh.uab.edu or by phone 256-551-4611.

The following is a list of instructions and tips for completing the cases:

Each of your upcoming clerkships has a set of corresponding computerized patient simulations.  These simulations are referred to as the DxR cases.  The cases will provide you an opportunity to practice your clinical reasoning and compare how you addressed the patient’s problem with how the clinician author addressed the patient’s problem. 

A few thoughts to help you with the workups:

• You have NEVER seen these patients before
• You have NO previous medical records to give you information.
• The program will evaluate your workup by comparing it to the author’s workup
• All program evaluations are biased towards THOROUGHNESS.  Therefore, be thorough.

What our computer needs to run the program:

• Internet Explorer 5.0 or better or Netscape 4.7 or better.  With Netscape change the font size to 10 to see the “ask” button.
• You can get IE 5 and Netscape 4.7 through:  http://www.dpo.uab.edu/software/
• Quick Time installed to hear heart and breath sounds or view video clips.  If you don’t already have it, you can get it through:  http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/

Walking you through using the program:

• When you access the DxR, you will see a drawing of a patient examination room.
• On the right side of the door is a listing of the various clerkships with patients waiting for you to see them.  You only have access to patients for your particular clerkship. 
• Click on the name of your clerkship.  A picture will appear with pictures of all the patients you can see.  Click on one you would like to see.
• The next screen gives credit for the program and has a statement “Click here to see the patient”.  Do so.
• A little screen will pop up telling you about the screen resolution.  The minimum setting for the program to run is 800x600 with 16-bit color.  If necessary do as it says and click “OK”.
• The next screen will show our patients fold and ask for your name and password.
• Use your first name and last name as it appears in your student records.  First letters are capitalized; remainder is lower case.
• Your password is the last (4) digits of your SS#.
• Click “enter” and you should see a “Start” or “Continue” appear on the left side of the screen.  Click it and off you go.
• If you need HELP there is an online help button that appears in the lower left corner when you are working with the patient.