The ability to recognize abnormal heart sounds via a stethoscope is an important skill for doctors to learn in order to identify dangerous heart conditions. This can also minimize the need for expensive tests.
However, previous studies reveal the average rate of correct heart sound identification by doctors is around 40 percent. Now, there's a new way to sharpen listening skills.
According to a recent study, medical students greatly improved their stethoscope skills by listening repeatedly to heart sounds on their iPods.
Temple University School of Medicine recently started a four-year curriculum that relies on different types of simulators, including iPods, to teach medical students this important skill. For each year of medical school, heart sounds are posted online, allowing students to download them to an iPod or mp3 player. After listening repeatedly to the audio files, the students' skills are tested.
Researchers also decided to test this technique on practicing physicians. In a study presented at the American College of Cardiology's annual meeting, investigators found that intensive repetition -- listening at least 400 times to each heart sound -- significantly improved the stethoscope abilities of doctors.
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iPods for Health
Learn how iPods are teaching old doctors new tricks.
 
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During a single, 90-minute session, 149 general internists listened to five common heart murmurs including aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, mitral stenosis, mitral regurgitation and innocent systolic murmur. After the session, about 80 percent of the doctors could correctly identify the heart sounds.
Doctors and nurses at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia are using a remote monitoring system that integrates interdisciplinary intensive-care teams with technology to educate, improve practice, increase efficiency and save lives.
The Penn E-lert eICU allows off-site doctors and nurses to track numerous patients through a computer, camera and audio system. The system is programmed to track trends and changes in critically sick patients. A nurse monitors the patient via software, and the camera is used when the eICU nurse needs to assess the situation visually.
When there is no change in the patient's condition, the nurse receives an alert on a screen. The bedside team can then call for the eICU assistance. Doctors say this approach has resulted in lower mortality rates among the sickest patients.
