The program
During the first year ICM course of medical school, students see
many standardized patients who demonstrate what is normal in interviewing
and physical exams. During the second year, course directors wanted
the Standardized Patient Program to provide real patients with real
findings. This would enable the students to see abnormalities in
interviewing and physical exams, while learning advanced exam techniques.
The challenges
The biggest challenge was finding patients
with moderate to severe findings. This presented
several problems.
- If the findings were not very severe, they went
undetected by the students.
- If findings were too severe, the patient may
not be able to endure the session.
- Many of the patients required extra attention
in getting to the center, i.e. many wheelchairs.
- Finding real patients who could also be trained
as facilitators.
This lung
patient suffers from chronic obstructive
pulmonary
disease which requires the use of an oxygen tank.
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The conclusion
Over all, this has been a very positive and educational
experience for everyone involved.
- The most common comment by the patient was that “if
this helps young doctors, I am happy to participate
in the teaching.” Two patients even refused
payment for the sessions.
- The students not only learned how to perform a physical
exam involving abnormalities; they also experienced
the human aspect of how these patients’ lives
have been affected by their problems.
- The patients were overwhelmed by the positive experience.
All said they would do this again.
This neurological patient has degenerative cerebellar
disease for which there is no treatment or cure. |
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