Virtual Patient

A virtual patient is a computer-generated simulation of a person with specific health conditions or disabilities, used in clinical education to allow healthcare students to practise assessment, diagnosis, and interaction skills in a safe, repeatable environment. Virtual patients can range from simple text-based case studies to fully animated 3D characters with realistic physical impairments, facial expressions, and dialogue capabilities. In rehabilitation and accessibility contexts, virtual patients with disabilities such as stroke-related movement impairments or facial paralysis enable occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and medical students to develop skills in reading physical and emotional cues from individuals whose presentations differ from those of their able-bodied peers.