New York College of Osteopathic Medicine runs a standardized patient and robotics based Institute for Clinical Competence (ICC). Since August 2004, the ICC has been training and assessing students from the first year to their graduation in a state-of-the-art simulated patient clinic. The standardized patient program has been operational since 2002 at NYCOM.

First- and second-year students have practice history-taking, physical examination and interpersonal communication with a pool of several dozen standardized patients, or SP's, hired from the community. The SP's have received training in simulating a medical condition and documenting student performance. At the end of each year the students are evaluated on their physical examination proficiency by the SP's during an objective structured clinical examination, or OSCE.

Changes in medical education have prompted NYCOM to establish such a program. One factor is that The National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners has created an additional board examination that all DO students must pass, the COMLEX-USA-Level 2-Performance Evaluation. Starting in September 2004, this exam has been evaluating medical students readiness to enter internship through the use of standardized patients and trained DO raters. NYCOM’s excellent standardized patient program does prepare our students for that exam, but more importantly, to enter clinical work with increased skill and confidence.

In addition to the standardized patient program, the ICC also features a human physiology simulator that can be used to reinforce concepts learned in the basic sciences as well as to teach BCLS and ACLS, emergency medicine and other higher level programs. The institute uses a digital video system and other state of the art technology allowing faculty and students to observe clinical exercises on the web and advanced software to track and student performance.

An innovative program at the ICC evaluates students in the Émigré Physician Program and their ability to communicate effectively with medical patients. Another program provides COMLEX-USA-LEVEL 2-Performance Evaluation practice examinations to fourth year students. This program follows the COMLEX exam protocols. Tony Errichetti, Ph.D., consulting director of the new institute, has worked on the development of the new COMLEX examination from its inception. He and his staff will offer test-taking strategies to help students do their best in the actual board exam. The ICC also works extensively with first- and second-year students in both the lecture based and problem based tracks.

Contact Information:
Tony Errichetti
Ph.D., Director, Institute for Clinical Competence
Phone: 516-686-3928

Patty Myers
Human Patient Simulator Technician
Phone: 516-686-3926

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