Standardized patients are individuals who are specially trained to act as patients for the instruction, practice and assessment of medical examination skills of medical students, fellows, residents and other health care providers. They are a significant resource for teaching and evaluating clinical skills, including:

• physical examination
• communication
• history taking
• patient counseling
• patient education

Professional trainers, staff, and faculty members prepare standardized patients for their roles in all assigned medical cases. Standardized patients are able to assist in both teaching and evaluation of students. They also are trained to provide constructive, non threatening feedback regarding the completeness and style of a "doctor-patient" encounter. Standardized patients can expect to be utilized during one on one, small group or large group sessions that may occur in a class room or clinical exam room.

Learn how to become a standardized patient