photo opportunity 11.30am, Wednesday 19 December, Clinical Skills Unit, Medical School, level 7 Ninewells Hospital, Dundee.
Vital to teaching for all medical professions - the Clinical Skills Unit at the University of Dundee is celebrating the Christmas season by hosting a party for all the volunteers who act as simulated patients for students' medical training.
The simulated patients are a group of volunteers who take part in clinical skills classes letting the students take their medical history or carry out basic examinations on them. Students get invaluable practice speaking to patients and improving their basic clinical skills. Real life situations such as a patient being admitted to hospital are also set up with the simulated patient acting while the students assesses whether they need to be admitted for further examination.
Simulated patients are asked for their feedback on the student's performance so that lecturers can assess students on their interaction with patients as well as their practical skills.
Mrs Ellie Christopher is a simulated patient at the Clinical Skills Unit. She said: "Working with the students is very enjoyable, worthwhile and a lot of fun. Recently I was reading the script for a nineteen year-old girl with anorexia while the group of fourth year students listened to my account of my illness and gave their assessment. It is a very rewarding scheme to be involved in and the students are very polite. Letting students speak to real people teaches them how to deal with people on a one to one basis and lets them improve their bedside manner."
The clinical skills unit at the University of Dundee serves the joint faculty of medicine, dentistry and nursing and so provides clinical training for a wide range of medical professionals. Dr Jean Ker, the newly appointed director of the clinical skills unit said: "It is vitally important for students to experience real people in their clinical training. Our simulated patients scheme teaches the students the necessary practical skills but also lets them learn how to interact with patients which is just as important in medical practise. Volunteers are essential for providing this training. We hope that new recruits will contact us to find out more about become a simulated patient. "/ENDS
Contact Dr Jean Ker 01382 633937