Standardized Patient for Patients as Educators Program (PEP)
What is a Standardized Patient?
Standardized Patients are individuals from the community who are trained to role play or “act” as patients for health professions students. In our program, the SP participates in the medical education of third-year students by acting out a pre-scripted scenario while the student doctor conducts a verbal medical examination. Following the verbal interview examination, the SP will work with student in sharing an evaluation of the interview. SPs will be trained to consistently and accurately simulate a patient in a medical encounter for teaching and evaluation purposes.
Who can participate?
Adults of all backgrounds, educations, cultures and experiences are encouraged to participate. All standardized patients should be interested in working in an educational capacity for the betterment of the students. SPs are required to be responsible, conscientious, reliable, punctual, and able to participate in training sessions specific to each case. No prior medical knowledge or experience in acting is necessary. Candidates should have a good short-term memory. SPs are expected to memorize details pertaining to a specific scenario. Candidates must also have the ability to provide an evaluation following each interview with a student.
What is the commitment required to participate?
Typically, after the initial training sessions, SP events will be held one day per month (Feb – May and June – Nov). The duration of each day will vary between 6 and 9 hours with an average day being 7 hours. SPs must be willing to commit to a specific time frame to allow for proper training and role-playing exercises. After initial training, the vast majority of events will take place on a Friday with a mini-training/briefing session in the morning and the scenarios in the afternoon of the same day.
What are the benefits of being a Standardized Patient?
SPs can enjoy participating in the education of future health care providers. SPs generally enjoy interacting with students and fellow SPs. Many SPs benefit from becoming more empowered communicators with medical personnel and more active participants in their own healthcare decisions. Compensation is between $75.00 and $100.00 per day based on hours worked. AN average day is 7 hours. SPs are considered an Independent Contractor with West Virginia University. As such, SPs are responsible for declaring their income from the program and paying the appropriate taxes each year. Withholdings will not be deducted from paychecks. Proper paperwork will need to be completed and submitted by the SP prior to payment processing.
Where do the Patients as Educators Program events take place?
The majority of SP events will take place at the WVU Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center Eastern Division in Martinsburg. Occasionally, activities may take place at the surrounding hospitals and healthcare facilities in Berkeley and/or Jefferson Counties.
Apply online, or complete, print and submit application to:
WVU Health Sciences Center Eastern Division
Patients as Educators Program
2500 Foundation Way
Martinsburg, WV 25401
For more information, contact Student Services at 304-264-9202 option 1