SP Work at Emory
What is an SP?
At Emory's SP program, the Human Simulation Education Center (HSEC), we prefer the term Simulated Patient, which is frequently used interchangeably with "Standardized Patient." "Simulated Participant" is also applicable, as SPs are occasionally asked to portray non-patient roles.
This is the definition of a Standardized Patient, according to the Society for Simulation in Healthcare Dictionary1:
- A person who has been carefully coached to simulate an actual patient so accurately that the simulation cannot be detected by a skilled clinician. In performing the simulation, the SP presents the gestalt of the patient being simulated; not just the history, but the body language, the physical findings, and the emotional and personality characteristics as well (Barrows, 1993).
- An individual trained to portray a patient with a specific condition in a realistic, standardized, and repeatable way and where portrayal/presentation varies based only on learner performance; this strict standardization of performance in a simulated session is what can distinguish standardized patients from simulated patients.
- SPs can be used for teaching and assessment of learners, including but not limited to history/consultation, physical examination, and other clinical skills in simulated clinical environments Association of Standardized Patient Educators (ASPE). SPs can also be used to give feedback and evaluate learner performance (ASPE).
- An individual who is trained to portray a real patient in order to simulate a set of symptoms or problems used for healthcare education, evaluation, and research (SSH).
The following characteristics are important to be a successful SP:
- Accuracy in memorization of case details
- Ability to follow instructions and make adjustments
- Ability to realistically portray a patient
- Ability to remember what the learner asked/did and accurately complete a checklist recording the same
- Ability to portray various levels of pain, anxiety, etc.
- Ability to provide unbiased, constructive, professional verbal and written feedback to learners
It is also important that SPs check email frequently and communicate with staff regarding scheduled shifts and availability.
SPs play a wide variety of roles at Emory. These may include having a heart attack, experiencing abdominal pain, hearing that you have a fatal illness, portraying an abuse victim, getting a laceration sutured (a fake piece of skin is used), having a seizure, recovering from surgery with physical therapy, having an ultrasound performed on you, or meeting with a genetic counselor about your family’s history of cancer. We strive to portray each patient with dignity and authenticity.
In working with SPs, learners have a safe environment in which to learn and practice their skills. SPs are an important part of the education of future health care practitioners and they can feel good about the work they do in medical education.
1 Lioce L. (Ed.), Lopreiato J. (Founding Ed.), Downing D., Chang T.P., Robertson J.M., Anderson M., Diaz D.A., and Spain A.E. (Assoc. Eds.) and the Terminology and Concepts Working Group (2020), Healthcare Simulation Dictionary –Second Edition. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; September 2020. AHRQ Publication No. 20-0019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.23970/simulationv2
Eligibility
To be eligible to be an SP in the Human Simulation Education Center (HSEC), applicants must be frequently available Monday through Friday during the workday (generally 7:30 am – 6 PM) to work in 4 ½ to 9-hour increments. We can work around reasonable daytime conflicts scheduled in advance, but we cannot work around last-minute conflicts.
All hired SPs must pass a criminal background check.
Emory employees (and students who receive a financial aid or work study check from Emory) are generally not eligible to work as standardized patients. Please contact us for additional information about this.
FAQs
How often would I get to work?
We hire for each SP encounter based on that event’s needs so it can vary wildly, and there are busy seasons and slower seasons. You may go a month without being offered a shift, and you may get offered 35-40 hours some weeks.
Is there a regular schedule?
There is not. Expect your schedule as an SP to vary.
What’s the pay?
We pay $23.25/hr for all SP shifts.
What if I get scheduled for a shift that I’m unavailable for?
We use a scheduling software that allows you to put in any conflicts in advance. Additionally, SPs are never required to accept a shift. We ask that SPs respond to all scheduled shifts within 24 hours.
How can I get more work?
Once hired, you can increase the frequency of offered shifts by doing great work! If your portrayal and/or feedback skills were strong for a particular case, you’re more likely to be offered a shift or shifts to work that case again. We also hire SPs for additional tasks like assisting staff with event setup, administration and/or organization, based on demonstrated skills and reliability. Some SPs are occasionally hired to help with case training or auditioning new SPs, based on skills and seniority.
How has SP work been impacted by COVID-19?
For nearly a full year, we only held remote activities. All SP Encounters were conducted over Zoom. As of Fall 2023, most of our activities are in-person, but we still do conduct some remote activities, and training sessions are usually on Zoom. To work remote shifts, SPs must have a reliable high-speed internet connection, and a computer that can handle video conferencing (sufficient memory and webcam capability), as well as a quiet place to conduct sessions uninterrupted.
Becoming A Simulated Patient at Emory
The HSEC holds auditions periodically throughout the year. To be considered for an audition, fill out the SP Application below. When we have an audition approaching, a staff member will respond with next steps if you fit our needs for that audition group.
There are several components to our audition process including a pre-screening questionnaire, an audition portraying a specific patient, and an interview with a current SP or staff member. These activities allow for a thorough assessment of fit for the program.
All newly hired SPs will then be submitted for a background check before they’re cleared to work with medical students.
Please be aware that we do not audition all demographics each time as we strive to keep a balance of ages, ethnicities, and genders and only hire new SPs where needed to maintain this. Once your application is received, we will store it and notify you when we have an upcoming audition for which you’re eligible. It can be over a year before we have a need in a given demographic.
For those successful in the pre-screening questionnaire, criminal background check, interview, and audition, you will be invited to an orientation. Participating in the orientation is required before working any shifts as an SP.
To apply to work as an SP for the Human Simulation Education Center at the Emory University School of Medicine, please fill out the application below.