Abstract
E-learning systems are advanced systems that are used to improve students' earning capabilities as well as their accessibility by utilizing information and communication technology tools. These systems usually involve activities to increase the interaction among students and between instructors and students. Elearning systems enable students to extend their learning beyond the borders of the classroom by using online and offline learning technologies. In medical education, e-learning systems require special design because of the nature of medical education which requires more practical sessions, and more student involvement in medical procedures and operations. In order to provide medical students with a productive e-learning system, the system should be able to provide them not only with access to text books and lectures materials, but with real life cases including medical history, lab results, radiology images, and other patient related information. These resources would improve the student diagnosis and treatment skills and leverage their learning outcome. The objective of this paper is to discusses the approach adopted in The College of Medicine and King Saud University Hospitals to design and build a medical e-learning system to provide medical students with access to information they need, and how the goals of such system can be achieved by designing a medical portal for integrating medical information systems such as hospital information system, picture archiving and communication system, lab system, and operation rooms integration and control system with the e-learning system. In conclusion, e-learning systems designed for medical education should consider overcoming space limitation, and simplify medical information access in addition to help in overcoming other medical education challenges. In addition e-learning system should improve student involvement in medical procedures and operations, and access of life cases with special attention in handling the privacy and security of patient data.