Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) and other exercises that utilize standardized patients (SPs) can simulate actual clinician-patient encounters with great impact. They are one of the most effective methods for training and assessing competencies across undergraduate, (post)graduate, and continuing health professions education. However, organizing such programs requires strong leadership and the collaboration of many key individuals for planning and implementation. This book, Objective Structured Clinical Exams: 10 Steps to Planning and Implementing OSCEs and other Standardized Patient Exercises, serves as a comprehensive how-to manual and addresses the need for best practice guidelines. It contains a review of relevant literature, pointers for designing OSCE cases, tips on recruiting and training standardized patients, and it describes innovative uses of standardized patients for remediation and assessment in clinical settings. Charts, graphs, and sample forms are included to make this a singular resource for any educator interested in creating or improving OSCEs and other standardized patient programs.

Objective structured clinical examinations/exercises (OSCEs) using standardized patients (SPs) are an efficient means of surveying a diverse range of ability at any point along the continuum of medical education. An OSCE station can address multiple competency assessments across undergraduate, graduate, and continuing medical education. Nevertheless, organizing and enacting OSCEs is a major undertaking and, as with most other educational projects, collaborating within and across specialties and disciplines only enriches the process. The production of an effective OSCE program requires strong leaders committed to the benefits of such assessments, as well as many individuals to plan, prepare, and implement the program. To address the need for general guidelines of best practice and consistent organizational stratagem, Objective Structured Clinicl Exams is a comprehensive how-to manual for OSCE implementation. It contains an overview of and criteria for best practice, a reviewof relevant literature, insight into the program's influence throughout the healthcare system, and techniques for fine-tuning existing programs. Accompanying charts, graphs and sample forms are included to make this book the single resource for any educator interested in creating or improving a standardized patient program.