To determine the feasibility of the Zeriscope wearable telemedicine device for neurology resident education.

Neurology residents are often required to cover multiple hospitals while on call. This can separate less experienced junior residents from more senior residents and attending physicians, leading to suboptimal education and patient care. The Zeriscope is a portable and wearable device which allows a preceptor to observe and give feedback to neurology residents in real time.

The Zeriscope includes a headset with a camera, audio earpiece, and microphone tethered to a smartphone. The preceptor can observe audio and video from the patient encounter from any computer through a HIPAA-compliant web portal and provide audio feedback in real time. While on overnight call, junior residents were asked to wear the Zeriscope during inpatient consults. The senior resident on call observed the encounter through the web portal and provided real time feedback. After the encounter, both residents were asked to complete a survey regarding their experience.

Two junior and two senior residents evaluated the Zeriscope across four encounters. Using the Zeriscope added an average of 8 (SD=2) minutes to the time required to complete the consult. Junior residents found that the Zeriscope added value to their experience in 3/4 encounters, helped in presenting findings to the senior resident in 2/4 encounters, and helped in reaching the diagnosis in 3/4 encounters. Senior residents found that using the Zeriscope offered useful insight into junior resident exam skills in 3/4 encounters and helped reach a more accurate diagnosis in 2/4 encounters. One encounter was limited by technical difficulties.

The Zeriscope telemedicine device can potentially improve resident education and clinical care while adding minimal additional time to consults. These preliminary results support the need for a larger study to evaluate the Zeriscope’s role in resident education.