The Standardized Patient Program is part of the Curricular Resources and Evaluation Unit in the Office of Learning Resources at University of California San Diego School of Medicine, and is housed in the Professional Development Center. The mission of the Curricular Resources and Evaluation Unit and the Professional Development Center is to offer practical, interactive educational experiences that will provide students, and other members of the health care community, a supportive environment in which to learn or improve clinical skills. SP can present rare patient condition or medical emergency at will. SP is never too sick, too tired, too medicated to interact with learner. The number of variables in the case can be controlled for learning level.
Learner can make and learn from mistakes without fearing harm to real patient.
Learner can practice integrating knowledge and skills in real time. SP can be trained to give constructive feedback from patient's point of view. SPs are an integral part of four of the 10 monthly seminars each year. Faculty facilitate small groups in which the students interview SPs. During time-outs the group participants brainstorm, discuss aspects of the case and make suggestions to the interviewing student on how to deal with specific patient issues.