WHITE PAPER Transforming Medical Education Through ICT Intel World Ahead Program Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is Transforming Healthcare Education in the Philippines Putting notebook and desktop PCs in the hands of teachers and students means better healthcare and a stronger economy Recent worldwide trends have reduced the demand for Filipino nurses as other countries produce increasing numbers of healthcare professionals; this puts even more demands on the Filipino nursing education system to produce high-quality graduates that can compete. The capabilities of Filipino nurses are most affected by the nursing education delivered in more than 450 nursing programs to over 500,000 students nationwide. The President’s Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has recognized the need for nursing schools to increase the overall quality of nursing graduates, and to that end is encouraging and tracking the increased use of informatics in nursing Photo courtesy of Wesleyan University-Philippines programs. The wider use of informatics in nursing curriculums is seen as essential In the Philippines, the effectiveness of Informatics is key to increasing to improving the quality of the nursing nursing education has large impacts on education that schools are delivering. the return the nation gets healthcare and more. With a population Joel Cruz, officer-in-charge at the College of 90 million, every citizen is affected from its investments in of Allied Health Professions at Good by the quality of nursing in hospitals, Samaritan Colleges, has noted that the nursing education. clinics, and traveling healthcare teams. informatics challenge is a matter of keep- In addition, 690,000 Filipino nurses ing up with changing conditions worldwide. working outside of the Philippines repa- “The emerging rise in the use of technology triate over US$170 million each year, is prompting nursing colleges to adopt ICT which represents a full 1 percent of the solutions,” he says. “Otherwise, they’ll be nation’s GDP. For both health and wealth, left behind.” the citizens of the Philippines depend on the quality of the nursing force. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is Transforming Healthcare Education in the Philippines “With a PC and through the Internet, I have access to a much wider set of sources. I’m able to gather information that is relevant to the task at hand and much more up-to-date than traditional resources.” – Keith Petrola, senior student, College of Nursing at the University of Pangasinan-Phinma Photo courtesy of Wesleyan University-Philippines Deploying Ict Solutions to who have broader skill sets and are better range of affordable choices for netbook, Improve Educational Outcomes prepared for the evolving challenges of notebook, and desktop PCs. “The financ- As ICT plays an ever-increasing role in today’s and tomorrow’s healthcare settings. ing component of the program provides developed and now developing countries, At leading nursing colleges, these ICT students with options for PC ownership building 21st century skills to meet the tools – including multimedia classrooms, that they normally would not have,” says escalating demands on healthcare resources educational software, broader access to Carlo Subido, business development is a strategic imperative for nations. Leading the Internet, and student PCs – are being manager at Intel. “That gives them Filipino nursing schools are taking a multi- deployed to transform nursing education. access to possibilities and informa- faceted approach to incorporating ICT solu- (See sidebar Nursing Schools Leading the tion that they’ve never had before.” tions into their educational processes. While Way with ICT.) Strategic Capabilities that strategies vary from school to school, key Intel has been an active participant in Produce Better Nurses elements are: formulating strategies to meet these Executive leaders at many of the leading • Wireless networks challenges. Discussions at the Health Informatics Seminar held at the Asian Filipino nursing schools see clearly that • Instructor’s notebook PCs with Institute of Management and multiple meeting the challenges facing them will specialized instructional software summits for college administrators held require expanding the role of ICT on • Affordable student notebook PCs in Cebu and Manila identified a strategic campus. “The growth of ICT in higher with self-paced learning content opportunity to increase PC ownership by education is showing that traditional instruction is slow, time consuming, and • Multimedia and computer-enabled nursing students. Intel, in partnership with provides limited access to information,” classrooms and labs Asianic Distributors, Radiowealth Finance Corporation, and leading Filipino nursing says Dr. Norma Simborio, dean of the To assist nursing schools and students schools, launched the PC Acquisition College of Nursing at Cagayan de Oro adopt the technology tools that will help Financing Program in 2010. This inno- College-Phinma. “Teaching with ICT tools them succeed, Intel is partnering with lead- vative approach extends low-cost financ- in the classroom and in the students’ ing nursing colleges and key private sector ing to nursing students and faculty who hands is dynamic, innovative, and creative. companies to increase usage of ICT tools in would otherwise not be able to purchase a And it extends the student’s learning nursing programs. Intel often takes a lead- PC. The program makes a key component experience to any location with access ership role in public/private partnerships of ICT-enabled education – the learners’ to a wireless network.” Dr. Nancy Erasga, that accelerate education and healthcare and instructors’ own PCs – much easier dean of the College of Nursing at Araullo transformation worldwide through tech- to accomplish. In the program, the schools University-Phinma agrees. “We have a nology, programs, and policy leadership. enter into a Memorandum of Agreement significant advantage in that all our nursing Getting the right ICT tools in the hands of with Asianic (the PC dealer) and Radio- faculty members are also computer literate. both teachers and students is proving to wealth (the financing provider). Students It makes the classroom teaching environ- be a catalyst for better, more immersive and faculty are then presented with a ment more seamless and effective.” education that develops graduate nurses 2 Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is Transforming Healthcare Education in the Philippines “ The growth of ICT in higher Nursing SchoolS Leading the WAy with ICT education is showing that These schools are preparing highly skilled and competitive nurses by deploying ICT solutions in the classroom and helping nursing students purchase a PC traditional instruction is slow, through the PC Acquisition Financing Program. time-consuming, and provides Schools Currently Participating Number of Nursing limited access to information. in the PC Acquisition Financing Program Students Enrolled University of Perpetual Help System 4,000 Teaching with ICT tools in the Wesleyan University-Philippines 2,700 classroom and in the students’ Good Samaritan Colleges 600 hands is dynamic, innovative, University of Pangasinan-Phinma 2,100 and creative.” University of Iloilo-Phinma 1,400 Cagayan de Oro College-Phinma 400 – Dr. Norma Simboria, Dean of the College of Araullo University-Phinma 460 Nursing, Cagayan de Oro College-Phinma Whether it’s instructors delivering competitive globally, and equipped with tools also allow faculty to deliver teaching lectures from a notebook PC, student the technology skills needed in today’s anytime anywhere, removing geographic teams collaborating on a nursing assign- healthcare settings. Without these tools, barriers.” Campus-wide wireless network- ment in a computer lab, or students we would be left behind.” ing makes it possible for faculty to access accessing research information wirelessly resources from anywhere and keep across campus, each of these capabilities Making Teachers More Effective in-classroom experiences up to date. improves the students’ learning experi- Using ICT tools helps teachers deliver According to Dr. Rosalie Armando, IT ences. ICT solutions enhance the teaching better education throughout the teach- director at the University of Perpetual and learning of medical concepts as well as ing process – from development of course Help System-Dalta, informatics funda- their applications in clinical settings. “New materials and new ways to package mentally changes an instructor’s teach- technology can deliver medical informa- content to enhanced in-class delivery ing capabilities. “Faculty members can tion faster and more comprehensively,” and collaborative clinical simulations. broaden their research-based activities, explains Prof. Peregrin De Guzman, presi- create various lesson designs, and bring dent of Good Samaritan Colleges. “These In developing course material, faculty at more innovation into the classroom,” tools assist faculty in making lessons leading nursing schools are using a variety she says. “Adaptable courseware, online easier to comprehend, more organized, of commercial and free, open-source soft- examinations, and interactive computer- and better illustrated in specific, concrete ware applications to increase their effec- based training all become possible. Instruc- situations.” tiveness in the classroom. Presentation tors are given a much better tool kit to software (such as Microsoft PowerPoint*) work with.” Administrators