Editorial
An increasing number of medical graduates are opting not to practice medicine after training, which sparks concerns about the effectiveness of medical education in preparing and motivating students for lifelong careers. To address these challenges, medical education must reform to produce competent, caring doctors who are committed to their vocation.
Infographic
Research
Design Thinking in Undergraduate Medical Education
Archit Vishnu Potharazu, R. McKinley Sherrod, Santosh Basapur, Patricia Beirne, Ryan Buckley, Raymond H. Curry, Kim Erwin, Morgan Hutchinson, Peter H. Jones, Miiri Kotche, Alexander Langerman, Lana M. Minshew, Amanda Sammann, Matthew Trowbridge, Jerry A. Krishnan, Hugh Musick
Medical education needs novel curricular initiatives. Design thinking, a structured innovation framework commonly used in business and engineering, is being educated into medical curricula. This article shares findings from a study of design thinking educators in medical schools in the US and Canada. Standardised outcome-based evaluation of students competencies will help further develop the intersection between design and medical education.
Clinical Audit
Impact of Introduction of an ICU-led Medical Emergency Team (MET) Service: Single Centre Cohort Analysis at a Metropolitan Teaching Hospital
Mainak Majumdar, Emmanuel Saka, Rodolfo Commandari, Umesh Kadam
This audit evaluated the impact of establishing an ICU-led MET service at a metropolitan teaching hospital. Results indicated significant increase in MET call activity post-establishment, with delayed MET activations (>24 hours post-admission) associated with higher mortality rates and prolonged lengths of stay. Age emerged as an important predictor of mortality post-MET call, emphasizing need for prompt intervention, especially in older patients.
Research Insight
Mapping vaccine experiences to expose systemic issues in vaccine availability
Anne Marie Trolard, Avinash Murthy, Amelea Gritter, Hilary Broughton, Angela Brown, Elvin Geng, Brett Maricque
Researchers used human-centered design to understand COVID-19 vaccine uptake challenges. Systemic barriers, such as confusing distribution systems and lack of access to trusted healthcare providers, led to delays in vaccination among willing individuals. Difficulties in accessing vaccines can inadvertently contribute to what appears as hesitancy, highlighting the need for systems that support seamless vaccine delivery and clear communication.
Design Insight
The role of design in dialysis innovation, sustainability, and patient quality of life
Alessia Buffagni
A project entailing the redesign of the Wearable Artificial Kidney (WAK) shows how crucial a designer’s intervention can be. A renewal of the WAK’s components and review of its usability sparked the transformation of a therapeutic device that has remained unchanged over many years and which is no longer sustainable, both in terms of resources and patients’ quality of life.