Online medical teaching case database

Case-based teaching allows for the study of medicine through records of patient encounters. These cases, used for teaching purposes, are variably collected by clinicians as hard copies of patient files and radiology films. Currently, a single repository of thorough, multi-disciplinary, medical teaching cases that can be uniformly accessed, shared, and searched comprehensively by all medical professionals does not exist. An Internet accessible database (iCORD) that focuses on graphical, audio-visual information along with text has been created. Users may create their own teaching case records to organize their files and share them with others. Case submissions are executed through a non-platform-specific application securely connected to the iCORD database. This submission tool and connector module, was developed using Java and XML-related technologies. The data storage medium, which is an extensible SQL database primarily used for storing patient case information, is exposed using IIS 5.0 and XML-based transformation tools to allow dynamic content delivery to PC´s and handheld devices. Usage statistics, distributable teaching files, and user-centric information, which are compiled in the iCORD database, allow development of useful case search algorithms. The prototype database of 400 otolaryngology clinical cases is fully searchable using Boolean logic by parameters including age, gender, diagnosis, medical history, clinical keywords, pathology keywords, and more. The database can be used as a teaching tool during conferences and as a case authoring tool for physicians.