Yesterday I got through a second round of standardized patients (SP) relatively unscathed. Unlike the first round, my awkwardness in being “natural” in an otherwise “unnatural” setting while trying to cover (and remember) all the components of COPMAPS was not digitally recorded. Thankfully, neither was the smirk that came to my face upon entering the patient’s room . . . as images of Kramer presenting with gonorrhea ran through my mind!

Fortunately, the cases I encountered were not nearly as complicated (i.e., sinus infection, head pain from falling) this time around. Instead of debriefing the SP encounter with faculty one week after-the-fact, we were to receive on-the-spot feedback directly from the patient — once, of course, the patient history was complete.

It was rather refreshing (and insightful) to see the SP not as mere actors but as individuals within the community — as it did not take long before feedback became advice . . . advice regarding the importance of empathy, understanding, making the patient feel as comfortable as possible, especially when meeting them for the first time. Feedback was no longer personal but about the system. Within moments it became clear that this so-called “SP encounter” was much more than just an extracurricular activity. It was an opportunity . . . an opportunity to both listen and learn!