Planning standardized patient programs: Case development, patient training, and costs

Abstract

The AAMC Consensus Conference on the Use of Standardized Patients in the Teaching and Evaluation of Clinical Skills concluded that standardized patient (SP) programs can add to the breadth of the medical school curriculum and increase the scope of student evaluations. Participants in the conference indicated a need for more information concerning guidelines for the development of new SP programs. This article highlights the issues related to developing and implementing an SP program within a medical school. Models for case development and patient training are presented in addition to a discussion of cost‐benefit issues.