A Step By Step Guide

To Mastering the OSCEs

and Patient Encounters

The Systematic Approach

Dr Al Imari, MD

www.OSCEhome.com
 Objective Structured Clinical Examination

 Medical authorities & faculties started to

implement the OSCE exams for clinical
and communication skills assessment of
medical students, clerks, interns,
residents, and graduates since the
1980s.
 It is a standardized method of clinical
evaluation that eliminates bias.

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 Objective Structured Clinical Examination

 OSCE is a form of performance-based

testing used to measure candidates’
clinical competency.
 During an OSCE, candidates are
observed and evaluated as they go
through a series of stations in which they
interview, examine and treat
standardized patients (SP) who present
with some type of a medical problem.
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 Objective Structured Clinical Examination

 “The OSCE is an approach to the

assessment of clinical competence in
which the components of competence
are assessed in a planned or structured
way with attention being paid to the
objectivity of the examination”.

Harden, 1988

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 Objective Structured Clinical Examination

 “The OSCE examination tests a wide range of

skills thus greatly reducing the sampling error.
This very significantly improves the reliability of
the examination” Harden, 1988.

 “The real power of this type of examination lies

in the ability of those responsible for teaching
and testing to examine their trainees with
imagination and forethought, in a reliable way,
in areas seldom or never tested before”.
Hart, 2001.

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 Objective Structured Clinical Examination

 The curriculum tells the staff what to teach...

 The OSCEs tells the students what to learn !

 And that is the point….

 What OSCE candidates should learn?
 What candidates can do rather than what they
know.

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 Objective Structured Clinical Examination

 The application of their knowledge rather

than the recall of knowledge.
 The ‘WHAT’ to ask and do.
 The ‘HOW’ they ask and do.
 The ‘WHEN’ they ask and do.
 How do they organize themselves.
 How do they communicate with patients.

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 Objective Structured Clinical Examination

 What are OSCE examiners in medical schools

OSCE exams, residency exams, and national
OSCE exams are assessing candidates for?

 Sign up for further OSCE preparation info and

free report: “Turning competencies into
practice” By the American Medical Association
Council on Medical Education at
www.OSCEhome.com.

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 The Systematic Approach to clinical
practice

 Around the same time, early 1980,

medical authorities started to endorse
the systematic approach to patient
encounters to assure a high level of
similar medical care to every patient.

 Every healthcare provider will deliver the

same Systematic Approach to any
patient complaint.
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 The Systematic Approach to clinical
practice

 The Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS)

is a training program for doctors and Advanced
Practice/Critical Care Paramedics in the
management of acute trauma cases, developed
by the American College of Surgeons in 1980.

 The program has been adopted worldwide in

over 40 countries; its goal is to teach a
simplified and standardized approach to trauma
patients. Originally designed for emergency
situations, ATLS is now widely accepted as the
standard of care for initial assessment and
treatment in trauma centers.
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 The Systematic Approach to clinical
practice

 Similarly, Advanced cardiac life support or

(ACLS) was developed by American Heart
Association, and a similar one by European
Resuscitation Council.

 It refers to a set of clinical interventions for the

urgent treatment of cardiac arrest and other life
threatening medical emergencies, as well as
the knowledge and skills to deploy those
interventions.

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 The Systematic Approach to clinical
practice

 Both ATLS and ACLS follow a step by step

systematic approach in which the healthcare
provider will follow the SAME way EVERY time
in clinical patient emergencies.
 It is focused, yet comprehensive.
 It assures that nothing will be missed
regardless of the provider knowledge, clinical
competency, stress or exhaustion.
 It is time efficient.

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 The Systematic Approach to clinical
practice

 Similar systematic approaches were developed

for lab procedures and diagnostic medical
imaging.

 Screening blood tests implemented.

 Varies guidelines are issued and revised

periodically by health authorities.

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 The Systematic Approach to The OSCEs

 OSCEhome developed a similar Step By Step

Systematic Approach to the OSCEs and patient
medical encounters.

 It is similar to ATLS & ACLS structure but for

history taking, physical examination, and
counseling for any patient complaint.

 It is focused, yet comprehensive.

 It is time efficient.

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 The Systematic Approach to The OSCEs

 A Step By Step Guide To Mastering The

OSCE and Patient Clinical Encounters
integrates both clinical and
communication skills in one Systematic
Approach.

 Medical students, clerks, interns,

residents and graduates can manage
patient encounters as if they are on auto-
pilot mode.
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 The Systematic Approach to The OSCEs

 Furthermore, it integrate communication

skills and dealing with difficult patients.
 In addition o instructing you ‘WHAT’ to
do or ask, it also contains carefully
phrased questions to be asked in
sequence.. The ‘HOW’ and ‘When’.
 It assures all the differentials are
covered, even if you forgot or stressed
out.
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 The Systematic Approach to The OSCEs

 This assures good organization of the

interview.
 It is time efficient by eliminating the need
to figuring out the ‘WHAT’, ‘HOW’, and
‘WHEN’ to ask or do.
 The pre-memorized clear question sets
minimize patient confusion and
interruptions.

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 The Systematic Approach to The OSCEs

 Implementing it shows your competency

and organization skills.
 It assures patient satisfaction and
compliance leaving him with ‘a good
doctor’ impression.
 No cultural, language, or ethical
conflicts.

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 A Step By Step Guide to The Mastering
The OSCEs and Patient Encounters

 Was developed by OSCEhome in 2004.

 Already in use by thousands of medical
students, clerks, interns, residents, and
graduates.
 Minimizes the needed time to master both
clinical skills and communication skills.
 Allows you to practice one system ONCE for all
your clinical evaluations and real life patient
encounters.

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A Step By Step Guide to The Mastering
The OSCEs and Patient Encounters

www.OSCEhome.com