Request Forms & Standardized Patient Resources

1. Complete the online form here: http://redcap.link/SP
2. Once applications have been reviewed, candidates will be invited to participate in an SP Interview Day via email.

 

Standardized or Simulated Patients (SPs) are ordinary individuals trained to realistically simulate medical conditions for educational purposes. They come from diverse backgrounds, representing various demographics. As members of the simulation educational team, SPs convincingly emulate real patients in both appearance and behavior. Through specialized training, they accurately and consistently portray the personal history, physical findings, and personality traits of a patient in a standardized manner.

SPs play a crucial role in helping medical learners practice interacting with patients. If you're interested in a program that enhances your ability to portray a patient realistically and provides opportunities to assess and coach healthcare learners at all levels, consider joining our simulation team. SPs work under the guidance of faculty members to support the medical learning objectives of educational sessions.

While some SPs have a background in acting, healthcare, or education that is not a requirement. Regardless of your previous training, you are representing a member of the community and we welcome a diverse range of individuals!

Basic Requirements:

• Punctuality, Reliability, and Flexibility are essential.
• You must have daytime availability, preferably large blocks of time available from Monday-Friday between the hours of 7:00am and 5:30pm.
• Have strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate articulately.
• Basic computer skills: Have a personal email account to access initial program correspondence, and have working familiarity with basic internet applications.
• Be willing to wear a hospital gown with only undergarments underneath (as you would at a clinic visit), during simulation of clinical encounters with healthcare learners
• Be willing to be physically examined (at the very basic - heart, lung and abdominal exams as you would expect at a clinic visit)
• Excellent memorization and recall skills, acting experience is not required.
• Exhibit appropriate personal appearance, hygiene and professional behavior when acting as a representative of the Standardized Patient Program
• Observe case/learner confidentiality and conduct oneself in a respectful manner in the diverse and inclusive SP community
• Authorized to work in U.S.A.

Each session held requires a training session where an SP learns the case and script, this includes information like the patients chief complaint or medical symptoms, background history and a physical exam information.

During an SP encounter, an SP undergos a patient interview and noninvasive physical examination by a learner.  You will never be asked to undergo a breast, pelvic, or rectal or genital exam. Things that might be done include, but are not limited to, having your eyes and ears looked in, and your hear examined through touch and listening with a stethoscope.

The learners include a wide range of healthcare professionals from nursing, physical therapy, physcian assistants, medical school, social work, and residents.

An SP is usually dressed in a hospital gown with full coverage undergarments. In addition to case portrayal, SPs complete checklists to help assess learners clinical skills, communication skills, and at times provide brief verbal feedback to learners.

This is a part time/per diem job, not elligble for benefits. SPs are hired as temp workers for specific projects based on program needs. Candidates must be willing to work a variable shift between the hours of 7:00am and 6:00pm to work a flexible schedule. Work days consist of both half day and full day programs.

Most of our encounters require SPs to be in hospital gowns.

SPs always wear appropriate underwear or shorts and socks for warmth. Female SPs always wear a bra.  When possible, we provide you with a robe to wear, or invite you to bring your own to use while you are not being examined.  

We train you in appropriate draping so you can protect your modesty while being examined. If you are not comfortable appearing in a hospital gown, let us know and we will only contact you for cases that do not require wearing a gown.

SP physical exams do NOT include breast exams, pelvic exams, genital/rectal exams or other “sensitive” exams. Only specially trained SPs assist in the teaching of these sensitive exams.

Most encounters are videotaped and kept on a secure server. Members of Actor's unions (AEA, SAG, AFTRA) should know that there is usually no conflict with union rules, as tapes are for educational purposes only.  Many other programs, such as those done in small groups, are not videotaped.