Healthy patients wanted for medical student assessments in Gippsland

Monash Rural Health is currently recruiting members of the community to act as simulated patients for upcoming medical student assessments across Gippsland.

Following a forced move to online assessments during COVID-19, Monash Rural Health is looking to increase its pool of simulated patients in Gippsland, for the return to face-to-face assessments across all teaching sites this year.

Associate Professor Cathy Haigh, Director of Monash Rural Health Gippsland, noted the important role simulated patients play in assessments, such as Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (or OSCEs).

“These simulated patients really help our medical students develop their diagnostic, management and communication skills during assessments as part of their medical degree. We need to recruit a variety of people of different genders, ages and backgrounds - and we then allocate them to roles depending on the requirements of each assessment and their availability,” she said.

“It is a well-supported activity - simulated patients are paid for their contributions, and work with doctors who provide advice about their role, and how to portray this. Please be reassured that any “acting” is low-key. We would always take care to explain the case and its requirements and to preserve  your dignity as a valued part of our team.”

Requirements of a simulated patient:

  • English language proficiency (verbal and written)
  • Capacity to keep information confidential
  • Reliability
  • Punctuality
  • Ability to simulate the patient role as directed
  • Healthy person without any known medical conditions (or conditions that do not impact on the simulated patient case)

Depending on the portrayed role, simulated patients may be asked to:

  • Memorise a patient’s history and provide the information to students as per the role instructions
  • Memorise the explanation of a condition/illness/medication given by students and be ready to repeat that explanation if asked by the student
  • Be examined by a medical student under the supervision of a tutor

All simulated patients are paid for their time.

“You also get to see the students grow in competence as they learn to interact with patients and communicate well to construct a history or undertake an examination. Your input into assessment is valued. Being a simulated patient is an important role - you are helping to educate future doctors and hopefully building a health workforce for Gippsland. Our hope is that students trained locally will stay local,” adds Associate Professor Haigh.

Are you interested in supporting medical students and the future rural health workforce by being a simulated patient?

Please contact rural.health@monash.edu to learn more and to receive a copy of our Expression of Interest form.