Innovative educational proposal: telehealth, clinical reasoning and collective construction of knowledge

Abstract

Introduction: As a result of the new technologies applied to the field of health, a discipline that invites us to redesign assistance, teaching and research has emerged: telehealth. In education, telehealth offers us the possibility of reducing the existing gaps between professional practice and ongoing training. Objective: To share a teaching experience for training residents by means of innovative education processes driven by the new technologies in Argentina. Method: We have carried out a work among medical residencies all over the country making use of video conference, with the object of promoting clinical reasoning as a method of case study and favoring the collective construction of knowledge. Results: A total of nine meetings were held via video conference with the participation of 44 residencies and 200 residents. Thirty-three percent agreed on appreciating that “sharing and knowing how other residents work” was what most called their attention. Firstly, they chose “to continue with clinical reasoning and presenting cases as a central point of discussion”. They have linked the experience "with a space for discussion and reflection and with the possibility of creating networks”, over other traditional ways of learning. Discussion: Medical teaching may be enriched with the incorporation of the new technologies. We can get involved in a transformative learning, defined by turning away from memorization, and introducing clinical reasoning as an epistemological method; replace the isolated practice with an interconnected team work and, finally, accomplish learning through a cooperative and collaborative knowledge by means of video conference. Conclussion: Exploring the potential telehealth offers postgraduate education will enable to create new innovative learning proposals for health care professionals.