Advancing Clinical Reasoning Using Standardized Patients and Layered Complex Cases (2021 Faculty Showcase)

Neva Kirk-Sanchez, Associate Professor of Clinical, MSOM

Greg Hartley, Associate Professor of Clinical, MSOM 

James Moore, Associate Professor of Clinical, MSOM

The course is a capstone experience in clinical reasoning and decision-making for doctoral physical therapy students. A competency-based assessment tool was developed and implemented using multiple Objective Structured Clinical Exams (OSCE), utilizing standardized patients, and representing a variety of patient populations. Cases were rich in context and increased in complexity over the experience. Core faculty-managed logistics and course design and content experts were recruited to facilitate small groups. Students utilized a structured examination worksheet (reflecting the physical therapist patient/client management model) to unfold each case. Feedback provided during/after the OSCE and self-reflection promoted deep adaptive learning.