The learning of high-quality clinical skills is a priority for USF Health. We have a state-of-the-art Center where we can both teach and evaluate the students on their clinical skills. These skills are introduced during the student’s first foray into the medical school curriculum and then taught and evaluated during all four years of their medical school experience. By the close of their fourth year, the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine medical students will have had more than fifty (50) hours of direct clinical skills assessment within the Center.

The Center for Experiential Learning and Simulation (ELS) opened its doors in 1995. In December 2016, ELS moved into the downtown simulation facility CAMLS, our 90,000 sq ft simulation center. In addition to the interaction with the medical students, ELS serves as an evaluation center for several of our USF Health students.

The Center has eighteen state-of-the-art clinical examination rooms, all equipped with advanced digital video monitoring as well as a closed circuit computerized evaluation system, with computer capabilities both inside the room as well as a student station immediately outside each clinical room. Each room is linked on a master video monitoring display in the control room, as well as having accessibility on a number of computers set up for review of students.

Accreditation

American College of Surgeons, initially 2011, reaccreditation status current

Society for Simulation in Healthcare, initially 2012, reaccreditation status current

Student Focused

The advancement of high-quality clinical skills is a priority for USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. ELS is where we are able to both teach and evaluate the students on their clinical skills. These skills are introduced during the student’s first foray into the medical school curriculum and then taught and evaluated during all four years of their medical school experience. By the close of their fourth year, the USF Health Medical Student will have had more than fifty (50) hours of direct clinical skills assessment within the Center as well as more than two hundred (200) hours of direct clinical skills education.

Standardized Patient Program

The STANDARDIZED PATIENT PROGRAM is within the ELS, which is a member of the Department of Medical Education (DME). This program is integrated within all four years of the medical school curriculum. Our more than 150 Standardized Patients are highly trained individuals from the community who spend hours training in the tools of verbal and written feedback based on the students’ communication skills.

The Morsani College of Medicine Medical School student will:

• Learn and be evaluated on interpersonal, history-taking, and physical skills during their longitudinal courses in years I, II, and III. 
• Learn and be evaluated on their communication skills during all of their activities in the ELS.
• Learn physical examination techniques from faculty clinicians then perform these organ system examinations during their longitudinal doctoring courses.
• Learn and be evaluated on their interpersonal skills, their ability to obtain an abbreviated history, and perform a focused physical examination that revolves around a medical complaint during their third year.
• Be evaluated on their ability to obtain a comprehensive history and physical examination, including their interpersonal and communications skills, examination technique, and sequencing during their third and fourth year.