The Dr. Allan L. and Mary L. Graham Clinical Performance Center at UIC

The Dr. Allan L. and Mary L. Graham Clinical Performance Center at UIC helps educators in the health professions improve clinical performance by using simulated clinical encounters for

• training

• assessment

• qualityimprovement

• and research

Simulated clinical encounters are especially powerful for teaching and assessing communication and interpersonal skills, attitudes, and procedural skills.

Standardized patients in these encounters are actors carefully trained to portray patients with specified histories and physical findings. These portrayals are so realistic and consistent that skilled clinicians cannot differentiate them from actual patients. When appropriate we recruit real patients (non-actors) with required physical findings and train them for standardized encounters. Encounters usually include a checklist, rating scale or other mechanism for providing feedback or assessing the participant's performance.

In addition to standardized patients, the Clinical Performance Center has a team of practical instructors who teach small groups of participants how to carry out various physical examination maneuvers. Practical instructors are trained to demonstrate physical exam techniques on their own bodies; students practice these techniques on the instructor and receive immediate feedback.

Simulated clinical encounters are used in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, and many other health professions. Learners at any stage - from students to practicing clinicians - can benefit from these experiences.