While most of the discussion has been focused on use of the OSCE in resident physician education , use of this testing format can easily be utilized in other disciplines within physical medicine and rehabilitation. Proper selection, training, and evaluation of trainees, as well as practicing health care professionals are part of the criteria used to judge "quality of care" in today's rapidly changing health care environment. A key component of a successful OSCE is the standardized patient (SP). The following is a summary of a poster presented at the 1999 Annual Meeting of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine detailing critical elements in the training of standardized patients: practicing health care professionals are part of the criteria used to judge "quality of care" in today's rapidly changing health care environment. A key component of a successful OSCE is the standardized patient (SP). The following is a summary of a poster presented at the 1999 Annual Meeting of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine detailing critical elements in the training of standardized patients:

There are six major issues to consider when designing an OSCE:

1. skills to be assessed
2. the OSCE team
3. the cases or situations to be developed
4. recruitment of the standardized patients
5. training of the SPs
6. logistics of the examination process.

Case development is usually derived from real situations, while the criteria must be designed to meet the competencies being evaluated, the level of the candidate, and the time allotted to the case (encounter). Recruitment and training of the SP is critical to the success of the OSCE, therefore SP candidates must be intelligent, flexible, quick thinking, and reliable. SP understanding of the concept of the OSCE and the role given them is critical to the overall process. Although dependent on the case being presented, physical findings that can be simulated include aphasia, facial paralysis, hemiparetic gait, and hyperactive deep tendon reflexes. Examination logistics such as location, equipment, timers, schedules, and support staff are also essential components of OSCE success.