Standardized Patient Program

What are standardized patients and why do you need them?

“The term standardized patient (SP) has gone through many metamorphoses, as the process itself has been refined since its inception in 1963. There have been many other names attempting to describe this phenomenon: programmed patient, patient instructor, patient educator, professional patient, surrogate patient, teaching associate and—the more generic term—simulated patient. What all of these terms are referring to is a person who has been carefully trained to take on the characteristics of a real patient in order to provide an opportunity for a learner to learn or be evaluated on skills firsthand.

While working with the standardized patient, the learner can experience and practice clinical medicine without jeopardizing the health or welfare of real, sick patients. The value is in the experience of working with a patient. It takes the process of learning a step beyond the books and away from reliance on paper and pencil tests. It puts the learning of medicine in the arena of veritable clinical practice—not virtual reality, but veritable reality—as close to the truth of an authentic clinical encounter as one can get without actually being there, because there is a living, breathing, responding human being to encounter.”

– Peggy Wallace, PhD

Following the Threads of an Innovation:
The History of Standardized Patients in Medical Education

About the Program

What is a standardized patient?

A standardized patient, also known as an SP, is a healthy person who has been carefully trained to portray the historical, physical and emotional features of an actual patient. Watch this video here. SPs provide an exceptional resource for teaching and assessment, allowing students an opportunity to:

Practice physical examination procedures in a safe environment
Develop doctor-patient communication skills
Obtain feedback from the SP regarding the physical exam from the patient’s point of view

Standardization

Each SP encounter is designed to teach or assess skills appropriate to the student’s level of training. These simulations are standardized in order to provide the same information and a consistent testing environment for each student. This allows every student an equal opportunity to demonstrate his or her skills in key clinical and interpersonal areas within the UWS program.

Qualities of Standardized Patients

There are certain qualities we look for while hiring SPs for our program:

Punctuality
Reliability
Confidentiality
Ability to keep clear boundaries
Willingness and ability to undergo common physical exam procedures
Ability to memorize and provide realistic exam findings
Provide useful and constructive feedback

Still have questions?

Standardized Patient FAQ

Is this like being a research subject?

No. Most think of research subjects as people who are taking pharmaceuticals, receiving experimental treatments or following particular diets to have their reactions documented and studied. Being a standardized patient (SP) is very different. Our SPs are trained to portray a patient case in order for our faculty members to teach and assess students.

Do the students know we aren’t real patients?

Yes. We aren’t trying to deceive anyone. Students know they will be interacting with SPs in clinical simulations. They are told to behave just as they would with real patients when performing interviews and physical examinations.

How do I know what to say?

You will be provided a script and trained to realistically portray the patient. Scripts will outline a complete patient history (present complaint, past medical history, lifestyle, etc.). During training, you will be shown how to move like the patient and how to respond to the physical examination. For example, you may be portraying someone with back pain and will be shown where it hurts and how to react to exam procedures students will likely perform.

Will I need to take my clothes off?

All SPs wear hospital gowns during simulations with modest undergarments underneath, which will not be removed. Genital and rectal examinations are not permitted so there is no reason for nudity.

What types of physical examinations would be done?

Many physical examinations are common examinations that will be familiar to you. For example, students may: listen to your heart and lungs with a stethoscope; press on your abdomen looking for tenderness or swellings; look into your eyes, ears, nose and throat; take your blood pressure; etc. Additionally, many orthopedic and neurologic procedures will be performed to help determine the cause of injury. None of the examinations involve taking any blood or other samples. The students will not be doing genital or rectal examinations.

Will I be receiving adjustments from students?

An important part of being a SP is willingness to undergo physical examination procedures. As part of an exam, a student may place you in a position to evaluate how the patient’s spine or other joints are moving. Although this may look similar to an adjustment, it is important to note that a student will never provide an adjustive force as part of a simulation. However, as an employee of the university, SPs are eligible to make appointments for free chiropractic care in the on-campus clinic. At the clinic you receive chiropractic services from student interns under the supervision of a licensed chiropractic physician, and your care may include adjustments.

Do I have to decide whether or not a student passes the test?

No. It would be unfair to expect someone without formal medical training to assess the clinical skills of students. However, part of the SP’s job is to document events of an encounter on checklists and provide feedback on communication and interpersonal skills for the faculty and students to review.

I’ve had some health problems in the past. Can I still be a standardized patient?

Probably. Our students need the experience of working with all types of people, and everyone has some sort of medical history. SPs do not have to be in perfect health, but do need to be physically and mentally fit to fulfill the requirements of the position. Job offers for SPs are contingent on passing a physical examination in order to determine if there are any existing physical condition(s) that would impact the ability to accurately and realistically portray specific exam findings or cause the SP to be at risk for injury.

Do I need to know a lot about medicine?

No. We will teach you what you do need to know. We actually prefer people who have not had extensive medical training because it can confuse the situation.

How often do I work?

We schedule simulations to meet our program needs, which vary depending on enrollment and specific case requirements. Being an SP is an intermittent, part-time position. An SP might work 20-hours one month and zero hours the following month.

How do you choose who will be hired?

Our program maintains a pool of SPs comprised of various ages, races and genders. People in all age groups and backgrounds are welcome to apply. This position is best suited for individuals who have some flexibility in their schedules, as the majority of our activities occur during regular business hours.

Standardized patients are selected for simulations based upon case specifics and the following:

Skill level and experience: case difficulty and knowledge necessary for simulation type.
Performance history: professionalism, punctuality, attitude, integration of supervisor feedback, successful portrayal of simulated cases and quality of written feedback.
Availability: in accordance with the needs of the university.

Is this job easy?

This job is not easy and it is not for everybody. It requires concentration and accurate recall while being interviewed and examined. You must be able to maintain not only the patient’s character but also simulate their physical condition during the entire encounter (15-60 minutes). After the encounter is over, you may be asked to record specific details about the student’s performance and provide feedback directly to the student. Most frequently, SPs will be asked to simulate a case many times in succession. This job takes energy, discipline and concentration. Additionally, SPs must have a high level of comfort with their own body. Being a standardized patient is hard work – but is rewarding and fun at the same time.

I’m interested in becoming a standardized patient. How do I apply?

You are able to apply online. Access the application here..

Are there other positions at UWS for which I may apply?

Yes. Within the program, there are men and women with intact, healthy reproductive systems who are employed as teaching associates for the genitourinary course at UWS. These positions require a separate application and are compensated at a different rate than our regular standardized patients due to the invasive nature of the work.

Male Urologic Teaching Associates (MUTAs) utilize their body as a teaching model while students learn to perform urogenital, rectal and prostate exam procedures. Apply online.