The CARDIAX Miniseries have been designed to supplement the CARDIAX cases by giving the learner a focused opportunity to practice their clinical skills in a realistic setting. Whereas the CARDIAX cases are comprehensive, exhaustively covering the diagnostic process of each particular problem, taking (on average) one to one and a half hours to complete; each supplement presents a series of short, interactive, five minute cases.
Supplements currently in progress or planned are:
Twenty authentic clinical problems (each averaging four frames) are presented. In each case, accurate observation and correct interpretation of the patient's auscultatory findings is shown to contribute directly to his or her diagnostic and therapeutic management. Each problem demonstrates a special lesson. The role of the arts as a means of educating a physician's senses and observational skills is briefly reviewed and demonstrated. Near completion.
Twenty five EKGs are each coupled to an authentic clinical problem. The learner identifies all abnormalities, describes and interprets them, and then applies them to key decisions in the patient's management. Interesting historical vignettes are included. In the production stage.
Beginning with the simple chest x-ray or at times with a nuclear or ultrasound image, authentic clinical problems are presented. The learner must identify and interpret an abnormality(s) or a reported abnormality(s) and then apply their interpretation to management desisions. In the planning phase.
Ten patients presenting with chest pain are reviewed sequentially. Based on the characteristics of the patient's description, initial decisions are required which will lead toward or away from the correct management of each patient's problem. In the planning phase.