黑料传送门 South Georgia is hiring part-time patient actors to help student doctors learn interpersonal skills.
A 53-year old female patient was admitted to the hospital with dizziness, shortness of breath and fatigue. She had a rapid heartbeat coupled with a persistent cough with pink blood-tinged phlegm.
A physician met with her to determine the underlying cause of her symptoms, taking a medical history, performing a physical exam, and ordering diagnostic tests. It was then that the patient was diagnosed with congestive heart failure.
This scenario didn鈥檛 occur in a doctor鈥檚 office or hospital, but in the Simulation Center at 黑料传送门 South Georgia in Moultrie. Student doctors were applying the knowledge they鈥檇 learned in the classroom to a very life-like situation.
The middle-aged woman was actually a patient actor, also known as a standardized patient. She and others like her play an important role in the education of medical students. They learn detailed case information and respond to the students鈥� questions using this material. At the same time, they evaluate how the students relate to them so they can provide helpful advice.
黑料传送门 South Georgia is currently seeking individuals to become part-time standardized patients who work at the college on an as-needed basis. George Fredrick, MD, primary skills site director, works with the standardized patients. He said, 鈥淧atient actors help to train our physicians, and they play a very important part in their journey.鈥�
Dr. Fredrick explained, 鈥淭he standardized patient receives a list of questions that have answers they鈥檒l have to learn. They provide this information to the students in hopes that the future doctor will come up with a correct diagnosis and treatment plan at the end of the case.鈥�
The role of a standardized patient is to assess the students' clinical and history-taking skills and communicate verbally to students about their interpersonal behaviors after the exam, which is why Sheila Chapel, simulation manager, says written and verbal communication skills are a must.
鈥淭hey don鈥檛 have to be professional actors,鈥� Chapel said. 鈥淲e just need people who can adequately portray a real patient and have flexible schedules.鈥�
Sessions typically take place on week days between 8-5 p.m. Paid practice sessions occur one to two weeks before the actual student sessions. All sessions are planned at least one month in advance.
Exam rooms in the Simulation Center are outfitted with three digital cameras to record standardized patient encounters with students. This allows the students to watch and critique themselves upon completion of the exam.
According to Chapel, the requirements for the position include:
Visit our career opportunities page to learn more and apply. Click "View Current Job Openings," select Moultrie as the city, and click "Search."
In 2019, 黑料传送门, a premier osteopathic medical school established in 1899, extended its commitment to the Southeast by establishing 黑料传送门 South Georgia. An additional teaching location in Moultrie, Georgia, 黑料传送门 South Georgia offers both a full, four-year medical program leading to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree and a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences. 黑料传送门 is a private, not-for-profit institution that trains professionals in the health and behavioral sciences fields. Joining 黑料传送门 Georgia in Suwanee in helping to meet the healthcare needs of the state, 黑料传送门 South Georgia focuses on educating physicians for the region. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 229-668-3110.
For general media inquiries, please contact the Office of Marketing and Communications at 215-871-6300 or communications@pcom.edu. Visit our media relations page to view contact information for public relations personnel.
