Standardized Patient Program at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine
Standardized Patients (SPs) are a vital part of the Medical Simulation Program at TouroCOM. Often members of the community surrounding the school where they work, SPs help medical students get practical, realistic experience working with real human beings.
What is a Standardized Patient?
A Standardized Patient (SP) is an individual who has been specially trained to simulate an actual patient in a clinical setting, allowing medical students to role-play scenarios they’ll encounter every day on the job. SPs learn to make their portrayals consistent and standardized, so that each student receives a similar experience. Working with Standardized Patients allows students the chance to perform physical exams and practice communicating with a real person. SPs are utilized during the first, second and third year classes at TouroCOM.
Some SPs are professional actors, but our program has participants from all walks of life. SPs work off of scripts, specialized training from faculty and staff, and a system of feedback from both peers and trainers to ensure that they provide a realistic patient experience.
In addition to being trained on each case, SPs are also trained in giving feedback to our students. This feedback may either be direct or through the use of evaluation forms completed once the clinical encounter is over. Students can access these evaluations, and use them to sharpen their skills.
Touro is a member school of the Association of Standardized Patient Educators (ASPE).
“My role as an SP at Touro is the most rewarding job that I’ve had in my career.”
- Standardized Patient
How does a student-SP encounter usually go?
Student encounters typically take place in our OSCE Lab, a specially designed classroom with a series of exam rooms designed to mimic the locations students will work during clinical rotations. An SP and a supervising faculty member (in-person or remotely, campus dependent) will set up in one of the exam rooms to receive students. A patient chart is placed on the door and students, once entering the lab, review the chart and then begin the encounter. Once the encounter is complete, the faculty member and the SP will complete their evaluations and a new student will enter the room.
Where can I apply to be an SP at TouroCOM?
Apply to be a Standardized Patient in your community.
What does the SP hiring process look like?
One week prior to the interview, you will be sent a short script that resembles a shorter version of an actual case script. You’ll be expected to learn the details of the script and portray the patient in the interview. When you arrive, you’ll have an interview with faculty members and the ability to ask questions afterwards. Prior to interview day, you will be sent a short informational video on all aspects of the SP Program. You should hear back promptly after your interview.
SPs are per diem employees of Touro University. Pay is $28 per hour, based on location and experience. SP training is compensated, but preparation time for script memorization is not.
Who can work as an SP?
Touro hires men and women of all ages, physical types, ethnicity, and background to work as SPs. You don’t need a background in medicine or acting. The best candidates are quick learners and strong communicators who are comfortable taking direction and adapting to new situations. Characteristics we look for in an SP include: reliability and punctuality, a lack of gender, racial, religious, or nationality-based bias, a lack of physical characteristic-based bias, comfort with your own health and health professionals, and a positive attitude that will survive repetitive medical examinations. There will be a background check and an interview to determine if you are suitable for the job.
“Thank you for helping us train to become competent and compassionate doctors.”
- Ina, Second Year Medical Student
More information for Standardized Patients
Will I receive training?
You will attend a minimum of 12 hours of training before beginning work as an SP, the amount will vary based on your prior experience and the types of cases you’ll be portraying. You will be required to successfully demonstrate the case you’ve been given before you can start working with students. SP training is compensated.
Do I need to be an actor?
No. Most SPs are not actors and do not have a background in acting. Acting experience might help in some cases, but SP work has more to do with staying consistent through the continuous, repetitive exams than with entertaining or playing to an audience. You will need to keep the details of your work confidential, so this may not be useful for an acting portfolio, either.
Do I need to know anything about medicine?
No. Your SP Coordinator will teach you everything you need to accurately portray your assigned cases.
How will I know what to say when students interview me?
You’ll be briefed on the history of the patient you are portraying. This includes what drove them to make an appointment with their doctor, the patient’s medical history, certain details of their life, and their emotional state during the encounter. The SP Coordinator will show you how to move like the patient and how to react to the physical examination. For example, if you are playing a patient with a bad back, you will be shown where your body hurts and the ways you can and cannot move.
What’s involved in the physical examinations?
Students may listen to your heart and lungs with a stethoscope, press on your abdomen to look for tenderness or swelling, look into your eyes and throat, take your blood pressure, assess your muscle strength, check your pulse or reflexes, or other common medical examinations. You will not have to give blood or any other kind of sample, and you will not be given any drugs.
Will I need to take my clothes off?
You may have to undress for some exams, but never beyond a hospital gown, bra/female bra (if applicable), and gym shorts. Genital, breast, and rectal examinations are not performed at TouroCOM. There may be a possibility of chest exposure (if applicable, bra kept on at all times) during certain parts of the examination (listening to your heart and/or lungs, etc.).
How do my real health conditions affect my work as an SP?
Past or present medical conditions will not exclude you from participating in the Standardized Patient program, but they might affect which cases you are asked to portray. You may need to speak with your own physician about any limitations you might have.
What is my schedule going to be? How often will I work?
This will vary quite a bit. SPs are considered per diem employees of TouroCOM. You’ll be scheduled according to your availability, the needs of the school, and the case you’re working on. We attempt to schedule each SP for a minimum of two shifts per semester, but some SPs will be working far more than that. Your abilities and availability will be taken into account when the schedules are being created.
Please note that many student sessions take place on Wednesdays.
Contact
For more information on Middletown SP Program, contact Dr. Michael Foti at mfoti@touro.edu
