Simulated Patient programme

Simulated patients portray the characteristics of real patients to help medical students to learn about doctor-patient interactions.

The Edinburgh Simulated Patient Programme supports training and assessment of medical students and professionals. Our team of dedicated volunteers get involved in teaching sessions, examinations and teaching videos/online learning packages.

 

Why was the programme set up?

The Simulated Patient Programme was launched in 2001 by Programme Coordinator and Fellow in Medical Education, Bryan Allan.

It was introduced to equip students with the skills, competencies, attributes and attitudes to allow them to function effectively and confidently as a doctor following graduation.

Medical students examine an elderly patient seen in profile

The programme gives students the opportunity to communicate with patients in a safe and relaxed environment from an early stage in their training. The programme follows the spiral feature of the MBChB curriculum in that students revisit themes again and again as they progress through the modules, with scenarios becoming more complex and challenging as the student continues through the years.

 

Get involved

If you are interested in becoming a simulated patient,  please download the information leaflet and application form below. Email the completed form to Sim.Pat@ed.ac.uk

Alternatively, you can post it to: Simulated Patient Programme, University of Edinburgh, Chancellor's Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB.

You can also get in touch if you are interested in accessing our bank of volunteers to enrich your institution's educational training.

 

Downloads

Document

 

Contact us

If you have any questions, or would just like to have an informal chat about the programme then please call or email either:

Patient Administrator (Simulated Patients) Sim.Pat@ed.ac.uk

Byan Allan, 0131 242 6417, Bryan.Allan@ed.ac.uk