A method and apparatus for recorded information conveyance and comprehension are provided that include a Virtual Interactive Teaching and Learning (VITAL) Center. The VITAL Center provides an interactive patient education and informed consent process that increases patient comprehension using presentations that offer a baseline education about medical and surgical procedures including the associated risks, benefits and alternatives. The patient's comprehension of the material is confirmed throughout the presentation using summary questions focused on key information. The patient is able to record their own questions or concerns about the procedure while watching the presentation. After the presentation is finished, A healthcare professional reviews the patient questions upon completion of the presentation, and any information the patient did not understand is further explained at this time. After all questions and concerns are addressed and the patient has a comfortable understanding of the procedure, the patient signs an informed consent electronically. Using digital video capture, the VITAL Center simultaneously records the information presented, the patient viewing the interactive presentation, the patient-physician interaction, and the informed consent process. The entire recorded education session and informed consent is stored permanently on optical disk media.

The present invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for presenting selected information to one or more individuals, and authenticating both the individual's receipt and the individual's comprehension of the information presented. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the methods and apparatus relating to the authenticating operation include methods and apparatus for visually and, optionally, otherwise recording the individual's responses to the information presented simultaneously with the presentation thereof. Preferably the authenticating operation further includes methods and apparatus for archiving, retrieving and observing in a correlated fashion both the information presented and the recorded individual's responses thereto. The present invention is particularly well-suited to providing an individual with information apprising the individual of risks associated with a particular activity and authenticating the individual's receipt and comprehension of the information presented and informed consent to assume such risks when participating in such activity.