Patient Actor

General Summary

Portrays a patient or a patient family member in role-playing educational encounters with health-care professionals for the purpose of teaching communication skills on an “as needed” basis. During learning sessions the Standardized Patient (SP) may be interviewed, counseled and/or physically examined noninvasively (e.g., temperature, blood pressure, heart/breath sounds) by the learner. SP training sessions with the SP Educator will be videotaped. Learning sessions may also be audio or videotaped. At the conclusion of each encounter, the SP completes a learner feedback checklist and then provides face-to-face feedback to the learner.

Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Functions:

• Accurately and consistently portray a specific type of patient, knowing the chief complaint and symptoms, past medical history, physical exam results as well as the appropriate personal appearance, demeanor, communication style, body language and emotional and personality characteristics.
• Receives ongoing feedback from the SP Educator and modifies behaviors accordingly.
• Completes learner feedback checklists accurately and consistently.
• Provide appropriate feedback to learners and colleagues as directed by the SP Educator.

Common Expectations:

• Follows all policies and procedures of the Simulation Center and the System.
• Promotes a positive, collaborative educational and work environment while participating in Simulation Center programs.
• Communicates with supervisor regarding issues, concerns, feedback, input, etc. related to Simulation Center programs.
• Accepts feedback and/or constructive criticism from supervisor in efforts to continually improve the quality of Simulation Center programs.
• Provides outstanding educational experiences to all students and affiliates of the Simulation Center; fosters teamwork; and practices fiscal responsibility through improvement and innovation.

Required for All Jobs:

• Performs other related duties as identified.
• WellSpan Health has adopted and implemented a compliance program to support WellSpan’s values and standards for professionalism, integrity, and ethics. Expected to support and meet the values and standards of the organization and the performance expectations of the job, the department, and the compliance program.
• WellSpan Health has adopted and implemented a privacy program to safeguard the patient information and the business and operational information of the organization. Expected to support and meet the values and standards of the organization to safeguard patient and business/operational information.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

Physical Demands:

• Standing – Occasionally
• Walking – Occasionally
• Sitting – Frequently
• Kneeling/Crouching – Occasionally
• Reaching – Occasionally
• Talking – Frequently
• Hearing – Frequently
• Repetitive Motions – Occasionally
• Eye/Hand/Foot Coordination – Occasionally

Qualifications

Minimum Education:

• High School Diploma or GED Required

Work Experience:

• Acting experience Preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent interpersonal/communication skills;
• Ability to memorize and be improvisational;
• Ability to read, write, understand and speak English at a level which enables the individual to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job;
• Ability to speak a foreign language is desired;
• Willing to be video taped for educational purposes.