Wards Simulation Platform

How This Works

This is an interactive phone call simulation. You'll speak with Robert in a realistic clinical communication scenario.

1. Start Call

Click "Start Call" when you're ready. Speak naturally as you would on a real call.

2. Have the Conversation

10 minutes to complete the call. The AI responds in real-time to what you say.

3. Get Feedback

End the call when finished. You'll receive AI-powered feedback on your communication.

💡 Tip: Speak clearly and at a natural pace. If you need a moment to think, it's okay to pause briefly - just as you would in a real conversation.

Briefing Details

1. Learning: The Chest Pain Differential

A Broad Differential

Chest pain is one of the most common and challenging chief complaints. The primary goal of the initial evaluation is to rule out life-threatening conditions. A helpful mnemonic for life-threatening causes is "PET MAC":

Pulmonary Embolism
Esophageal Rupture
Tension Pneumothorax
Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack)
Aortic Dissection
Cardiac Tamponade

Beyond these, the differential is vast, including musculoskeletal pain, anxiety, and common gastrointestinal issues like GERD.

Spotting Non-Cardiac Mimics (like GERD)

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a frequent cause of non-cardiac chest pain. Your history-taking is the most powerful tool to differentiate it from cardiac pain. Look for these key features:

Quality: Patients often describe the pain as "burning" or "sour," rather than "pressure" or "squeezing."
Provoking/Palliating Factors: Pain is often worse after large or spicy meals, and when lying down (supine). It is often relieved by antacids.
Associated Symptoms: Ask about a sour taste in the mouth (regurgitation), bloating, or difficulty swallowing (dysphagia).

Always Investigate Red Flags: Even if you suspect a non-cardiac cause, you must still ask about cardiac "red flags" like radiation to the arm/jaw, shortness of breath, and sweating (diaphoresis) to ensure you are not missing a life-threatening condition.

2. Scenario Briefing: Chest Pain (Non-Cardiac)

Your Objective

Your objective is to perform a complete and structured patient history for Robert, a 45-year-old male presenting with "chest burning." After gathering your information, you should be able to formulate a differential diagnosis and propose an initial management plan.

The expected workflow includes: Chief Complaint (CC), History of Present Illness (HPI), Past Medical History (PMH), Past Surgical History (PSH), Medications, Allergies, Family History (FHx), Social History (SHx), and a Review of Systems (ROS).

Patient Background

You are seeing Robert, a 45-year-old male, in the clinic. He has a history of hypertension but no known heart disease. He is slightly overweight and works a stressful finance job. He came in today because his wife insisted after he complained of a "burning feeling in his chest."

Key Medical Facts

Chief Complaint: "A burning feeling in my chest."
Past Medical History: Hypertension.
Medications: Lisinopril.
Social History: Works a high-stress job, drinks 3-4 cups of coffee daily, smokes socially on weekends.

3. How to Interact

Starting the Simulation

Follow these steps to begin the role-playing exercise:

When you have reviewed the briefing, press the Start Scenario button below.
You will see an indication that you have entered the room.
The AI patient will be waiting for you to speak. You must initiate the conversation.

Learning Objectives

Optional prep details

After completing this scenario, you will be able to:

Elicit a focused history for a patient presenting with chest pain using a structured approach (e.g., OPQRST).
Formulate a differential diagnosis for chest pain, considering both life-threatening cardiac and common non-cardiac causes.
Identify key historical features that differentiate gastrointestinal pain from ischemic cardiac pain.

Optional Pre-Call Knowledge Check

Optional self-check before you start

According to the 'PET MAC' mnemonic for life-threatening chest pain, which condition is represented by the 'P'?

Which of the following historical features is most suggestive of a non-cardiac, gastrointestinal cause for 'chest burning'?

When using the OPQRST mnemonic to assess pain, what does the 'Q' represent?

Chest Pain: Non-Cardiac Mimic