The Standardized Patient Program assists first- and second-year medical students and residents in the development of clinical learning and skills assessment. 

Standardized Patients have been used successfully in teaching since their introduction in the 1960’s, and here at Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine (OU-COM) since 1978. Standardized Patients realistically portray different types of illnesses health care professionals will encounter in the medical field. Each exam is designed to improve or enhance student skills in a safe and supportive environment. Using OUCOM's Clinical Training and Assessment Center, students practice and learn skills in diagnosing, interviewing, counseling, history taking and physical exam in 14 examination rooms outfitted with medical equipment found in a doctor’s office or clinic.

Desirable characteristics of a standardized patient include: interested, unbiased, conscientious, and accurate. Good clinical communication skills can assist the student towards greater efficiency in diagnosis and improve patient outcomes. Having the opportunity to use their communication and practical skills before their clinical rotations, the medical students will develop the confidence to perform these skills and increase their knowledge base before seeing patients in the hospital rotation sites. The standardized patients complete a communication checklist after each student encounter. Standardized Patients are an invaluable part of the education of students from their first year of medical school through their residency.

Through innovative teaching and assessment, using Standardized Patients and state-of-the-art simulators, the goal of OU-COM is to educate health care professional students and residents in a non-threatening environment to promote proficiency in communication and physical exam skills.