Basics
1. How are the videos organized?Hide
Each autopsy is divided into 1-5 minute video parts. These can be watched in order to view the entire case. Or, accessed via the search function, Body Map, History, Clinical Panels, or other search modes. Study individual cases, narrow searches to content of specific interest, or compare across the database.
2. What is the Anatomy Panel?Hide
The Anatomy Panel is a growing collection of selected interactive videos which pause to highlight anatomy using numbers and pointers. Each number identifies an anatomic structure listed to the right of the video. This functions like “anatomy pins” found in a anatomy lab.
Cases with digital anatomy pins can be found by selecting “Anatomy Panel” under the top “Features” menu.
Cases with digital anatomy pins can also be found by selecting the “Anatomy” option in the Library
3. How does the search function work?Hide
-Search by Library, Case, Body System or Search Term.
-The first (top) search box list “Library” as default. Leave it there to search the entire database.
-The second search box (“Cases”) lists cases (Case 1, Case 3, etc.).
-The third search box (“Body System”) lists body system (Cardiovascular, Endocrine, etc.).
-The fourth (bottom) search box allows use of specific search terms (“Superior vena cava,” “hyoid bone,” etc.).
More:
-Search for anatomy within a case or compare anatomy across cases.
You may search for a finding within a case. Or, you may compare one findings across cases. For example, when you search by case (and select Case 1) and then add the search term (“right coronary artery”}, you will select videos from Case 1 that show the right coronary artery. If you do not select by case and simply enter search term “right coronary artery,” you will select videos from all cases that show the right coronary artery.
-Search for isolated anatomic structures or anatomic relationships.
More than one search term can be entered in the search term box to refine or expand your video access. For example, entering “superior vena cava, inferior vena cava, atrium” will show video including all these structures.
4. What if a search term doesn’t pull up any videos?Hide
If this happens, the following are possibilities:
-The term may be listed under different language or spelling. Please try your term in singular or plural (“lung” or “lungs”). Or try an alternate term (“cardiac” or “heart”).
-Our cases may not yet contain the anatomy or pathology you are looking for. The library archiving function is growing and we appreciate your input and questions. Please feel free to check with us to see if we can help find what your are looking for.
5. Is there a way to know what’s inside any video before playing it?Hide
Yes. Each video has a “What’s inside” list of search terms. Feel free to view the list before playing the video in addition to using the search function. This can help you know if the video is partly or mostly about the topic you’re interested in. The case image also provides information. Often, you can tell if we’re working on the external exam, general opening, organ block or individual organs.
6. How do I access a video?Hide
There are several ways to access video.
-Use the Library.
-Select a body region from Body Map.
-Select the case number from the History.
-Select a topic from the Clinical Panels.
-Select an anatomic term or region from from the Anatomy Pin page.
-Select by anatomic variation from the Anatomic Variation page.
-Instructors can select from low, medium and high complexity cases via the Case Selector.
7. Are there tutorials?Hide
Yes. You may find a page tours, tutorial videos and a skill-check on the Site Training page.
Tech and Site Use
1. How will I login?Hide
There are multiple login options.
-Login through an Institutional Code plus your email (or username) and password.
-The site is also compatible with SSO/SAML (Shibboleth, Open Athens, etc.).
-The site is also accessible via EZProxy.
-The site can also be placed onto Chromebooks, on-site computer stations and other individual devices (with or without additional login).
2. I have an Institutional Code from my school but can’t login. Why?Hide
Please take these steps:
-Make sure you have the correct Institutional Code. If you do not have it, your school will be able to provide it to you. We cannot provide you with you Institutional Code directly.
-Make sure you have the correct email. It must be your school email (@your-school.edu). It cannot be your personal email (@gmail, @hotmail, etc.).
-Make sure you have the correct password.
-Please contact us right away if you have difficulty. The site security is robust and we may need to look at your account or send you a password reset link.
3. Is the site compatible with SSO/SAML (Shibboleth, Open Athens, etc.)Hide
Yes.
4. Is the site accessible via EZProxy?Hide
Yes.
5. How many devices can I log into with my subscription?Hide
You may log in to one device at a time. You may log in to any device anytime. However, if login to one device and then login to a second device, you will be logged out of the first device. For example, if you login on mobile, and then login on desktop, you will be automatically logged out of mobile.
Please contact us if you wish to set up multiple-device or institutional access.
6. How many browsers can I log into on one device?Hide
You may login to one browser at a time. You may log in to any browser anytime. However, if you have one active login on one browser and then login to a second browser on the same device, you will be logged out of the first browser. For example, if you login on Chrome and then login on Firefox on the same device, you will be logged out of Chrome.
Please contact us if you wish to set up multiple-device (multi-browser) or institutional access.
7. Can I download video?Hide
No.
8. Are there closed captions?Hide
Yes. All videos have English closed captions (unless there is no audio). Closed captions are turned on by default. Turn off (or back on) closed captions, by clicking “CC” in lower right of video. Use for quiet viewing without sound or to assist with audio. Audio can be variable due to site circumstances (background noise, physician use of fume mask, etc.). We recommend leaving closed captions on.
9. Are there foreign language subtitles?Hide
All videos have Portuguese subtitles. Other languages are coming (in progress). Some videos have Spanish or Arabic. Please let us know if you wish to suggest specific language for subtitles and we can consider.
10. Where can I find a copy of the Terms of Use I agreed to during checkout?Hide
The Terms of Use may be found here.
11. Where can I find a copy of the Privacy Policy?Hide
The Privacy Policy may be found here.
12. What types of devices can I use (mobile, table, desktop)?Hide
The site is accessible on all types of devices: mobile, tablet and laptop/desktop. The site is streamlined on mobile device. Additional features are present on tablet or larger (interactive video, anatomic variation, anatomy pin page, etc.). If you are on mobile, we recommend switching settings to “Desktop View” or a larger device to access all the features.
More about our video
1. What is Interactive Video?Hide
Interactive video is a duplicate copy of a video that you can edit. You may mark the video and add a notes. Your note appears in a column on the right. Clicking on the note jumps to the point in the video where you added the note. Interactive video is for institutional group work — students work together with synced video like anatomy lab groups.
2. How do I login to interactive video?Hide
-Select the Interactive Video option on any case page or from the Features menu.
-Select the case you wish to view.
-Enter your email and username when prompted.
3. Which cases do you video-record? Or do you video-record all of them?Hide
We only video-record cases when the legal next of kin authorizes video-recording. We do not make that choice. The patient’s and family’s privacy and confidentiality are our priority. The case will not be video-recorded without consent. We typically ask the family during the consent process if they wish to video-record for education. For some cases, we will not make the request (for example, cases under criminal investigation or children).
4. Can families opt out of video-recording?Hide
Yes.
5. How do you protect confidentiality during video-recording?Hide
If we are video-recording and live streaming at the same time, we prepare the body before video-recording by covering the face, written identifiers (name tags and case numbers) and other visual identifiers (tattoos). During the case we do not disclose case identifiers (patient name, age, unique case details). The case facility and location are not disclosed. If we are video recording but not live streaming, we edit the video after the case and before publication to remove any case identifiers.
6. Who chooses to video-record?Hide
Families who want to participate in health education or believe their loved one valued health education have chosen to video-record the case for education. Other families who have not been able to participate in organ donation have sought video recording for educational purposes as an alternative to “make a difference” for the future. Every family is different and chooses for reasons unique to them.
7. Who watches our content?Hide
Our video recordings are open to all subscribers. At times, we share clips with the general public.
The trade-off with real
1. Are cases produced for site?Hide
No. Cases are performed at the request of families for their closure and peace of mind. During the consent process, we gently ask if families wish also to allow us to record for teaching. The focus during the case is the case and the family, not the recording.
2. How does the case being real affect the video?Hide
We always put the patient first. Sometime we may pause a video when it interferes technically or end the video when we prefer to focus only on the casework. It is not a goal to video the case from start to finish. We do as much as we can while focusing on our patient care goals. (See also other FAQ’s in the section.)
3. Why do some cases use still photos while others don’t?Hide
Case photos are sometime available for a case. If these show something of teaching value, we will incorporate this into the cases to share with you. Not every cases will have photographs to share. We make use of any consented, available teaching material, whether videographic or photographic. This means the content on the site will vary in visual style. Our goal is not perfect production. It’s to let the body teach in whatever way it can. We’re honored the families have given us permission to share whatever it is we have.
4. Why don’t some of the organ photographs have rulers?Hide
We cannot show you rulers with labels in order to protect the patient confidentiality. Sometimes the label will be blurred out and you will see the ruler. Other times, we will crop out the ruler during editing and focus on the specimen. The ruler is there but outside the frame. It’s to protect the confidentiality. Again, the purpose of the case is not to produce it for our viewers. It’s to perform a medically sound cases for the family. And then we work with what we have to bring you this gift from the family.
5. Why doesn’t each case have medical records?Hide
Think of it like being an emergency room provider. You won’t always have the medical record when the patient walks in the door. Our patients comes to us from “the field” or a hospital or elsewhere. The family typically does not have medical records with them right when their loved one has died. We start by obtaining the history from the family. Sometimes we are able to access records, and we share these with you. But most of the time, we cannot. Managing medical uncertainty — making the best decisions with limited information — is an important skill the site values. What part of the history the family provides seems reliable? How could you tell? What is your differential diagnosis of a condition when lacking certain clinical information? Can you generate a list of question you’d need to get you farther? We consider these skills a strength of the site. You’ll need them with your real patients. Practice here.
6. Why are some parts of the videos blurry?Hide
Videos are blurred at certain points to prevent exposure of patient identifiers that may appear during a case (labels, name tags, tattoos, etc.).
7. Why don’t you provide ages of the patients?Hide
We do not provide the age to protect the patient confidentiality. Instead, we use general terms (middle-aged, elderly, etc.).
Culture, diversity, background
1. Why does the site identify race in the patient history?Hide
We are aware of the evolving use of race-based terms in medicine. We are sensitive to the dissolution of meaning of these terms in patients with multiracial backgrounds; as well as the significance of these terms in discussions of health care disparities. We leave these terms in to leave open the door for a variety of important discussions, including consideration of larger cultural issues and self-reflection on bias and comfort. Educators using our platform in the classroom setting may choose to explore student attitudes and biases towards patients of different backgrounds.
2. How does Autopsy.Online support diversity, equity and inclusion?Hide
Read our statement on diversity, equity and inclusion here.
