Use of Standardized Patients for Educational Purposes (ACAD 100-007)

1.0 Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for the ethical, responsible, and effective use of standardized patients (SPs), in educational activities. These simulations provide students with opportunities to practice and develop clinical, communication, and interpersonal skills in a controlled, safe, and educationally focused environment, fostering patient-centered care and reflective learning.

The policy ensures compliance with applicable legal, ethical, and professional standards and safeguards the rights, dignity, and well-being of all participants involved in educational activities. 

2.0 Definitions

Standardized Patients - At Baker College, Standardized Patients (SPs) are defined as an individual who collaborates with faculty to simulate realistic clinical scenarios by portraying the roles of patients, family members, or others.

3.0 Scope

This policy applies to all faculty, students, and staff involved in the planning, coordination, and execution of educational activities utilizing Standardized Patients (SPs) at Baker College. It encompasses all scenarios where SPs are used to simulate clinical environments, interactions, and patient care scenarios for teaching and learning purposes.

This policy does not cover the use of SPs in research activities or any non-educational initiatives. Individuals and entities affected by this policy include:

• Faculty members who design and supervise activities involving SPs.
• Students participating in educational scenarios with SPs.
• Standardized Patients collaborating with faculty to simulate clinical scenarios.
• Administrative staff supporting the scheduling and coordination of SP activities.

4.0 Policy Statement

The use of Standardized Patients (SPs) at Baker College is governed by ethical, responsible, and professional standards to ensure a safe, effective, and educationally focused environment. SPs are individuals trained to portray patients, family members, or others in clinical scenarios to facilitate the development of students’ clinical, communication, and interpersonal skills. This policy ensures that the implementation of SP activities is aligned with the following principles:

• Informed Consent: SPs must provide written informed consent before participation. The informed consent form is provided in the related information section of this policy. SPs will receive detailed explanations, either verbally or written, of the activity’s objectives, methods, and potential risks and benefits prior to the activity. Completed Program-specific informed consent forms will be securely maintained by the respective program directors.
• Voluntary Participation: Participation as an SP is voluntary, and SPs have the right to withdraw from activities at any time without penalty or repercussion.
• Confidentiality: The personal and health information of SPs will be safeguarded and used solely for educational purposes, following relevant privacy standards.
• Respect and Dignity: All interactions with SPs must respect their dignity, privacy, and cultural values, fostering an environment of mutual respect.
• Supervised Educational Activities: Activities involving SPs will be planned and supervised by qualified faculty to ensure alignment with educational goals and standards.
• Feedback Mechanism: SPs will have opportunities to provide feedback on their experiences. Feedback from SPs, students, and faculty will inform continuous improvement in training, processes, and overall experience.

5.0 Procedures

Planning and Implementation for use of SPs

• Faculty will design and implement scenarios using SPs that meet educational objectives and align with professional and ethical standards.
• SPs will be recruited and trained, as appropriate based on the scenario, to simulate scenarios effectively, with training tailored to their roles and responsibilities.

Informed Consent Process

• SPs will receive documentation outlining objectives, methods, and expectations before the activity.
• Informed consent forms will be signed and securely stored by program directors.

Feedback and Continuous Improvement

• Feedback from SPs will be systematically collected and reviewed via a google form that is managed by the program-specific program director.
• Identified areas for improvement will be incorporated into subsequent scenario development, training, and implementation.

6.0 Responsibilities

Program Directors

Maintain and securely store informed consent forms.

Oversee the recruitment, training, and scheduling of SPs.

Program Directors or Faculty Members

Design and supervise SP-related activities.

Ensure SPs receive appropriate training and orientation.

Collect and review feedback from SPs.

Standardized Patients​​​​

Participate in training and educational activities as outlined.

Provide feedback on their experiences to support process improvement.

Students

Engage respectfully with SPs, adhering to the principles of confidentiality and professionalism.

7.0 Citations & Related Information

Document A: Standardized Patient Informed Consent Form

Document B: Standardized Patient Feedback Google Form Template