  Electronic medical records (EMR) contain sensitive personal information. For
example, they may include details about infectious diseases, such as human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or they may contain information about a mental
illness. They may also contain other sensitive information such as medical
details related to fertility treatments. Because EMRs are subject to
confidentiality requirements, accessing and analyzing EMR databases is a
privilege given to only a small number of individuals. Individuals who work at
institutions that do not have access to EMR systems have no opportunity to gain
hands-on experience with this valuable resource. Simulated medical databases
are currently available; however, they are difficult to configure and are
limited in their resemblance to real clinical databases. Generating highly
accessible repositories of virtual patient EMRs while relying only minimally on
real patient data is expected to serve as a valuable resource to a broader
audience of medical personnel, including those who reside in underdeveloped
countries.
