A cardiology patient simulator for continuing education of family physicians.

"Harvey," the cardiology patient simulator (CPS), is the result of a new type of simulation technology that allows for repetitive practice of bedside cardiology skills and provides feedback to the learner. "Harvey" is able to realistically simulate an essentially unlimited number of both common and rare cardiac disease. This report describes the use of the CPS in continuing medical education programs conducted for members of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Cardiovascular disorders constitute a significant percentage of the practice of family physicians. The CPS teaching system has great potential for helping them keep their cardiovascular diagnostic skills current and for promoting better understanding of recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. The participants in this study were nearly unanimous in their feeling that the CPS accurately simulates cardiology bedside findings and is a valuable teaching tool with which they would like to again be taught in the future.