If you’re an Associate Clinical Educator (ACE), you may have wondered what sets you apart from a simulated patient or medical role player. In this article, we will be exploring this question and providing a useful questionnaire that will help you become a better ACE, teacher, and communicator. Our goal is to improve the quality of ACEs by answering important questions and providing helpful training resources.
How well do you really know your role as an Associate Clinical Educator? I have been thinking for a while now about creating a quiz for ACEs. I wanted to find out what makes an ACE more than just a simulated patient or medical role player. I believe the following questionnaire will help us become better Associate Clinical Educators, as well as better teachers and communicators.
Over the past couple of years, Meducate Academy has been putting together training courses to help existing ACEs and simulated patients improve their existing skills and introduce new people to the role of the ACE. We are always striving to improve the quality of our ACEs, and in order to do that, we always listen to what they have to say.
When I was starting out, many of these questions were never answered satisfactorily, and after much discussion with our existing ACEs, they all seemed to ask the same questions.
On the 13th of this month (May 2023), we will be running another one-day training course aimed at potential ACE. These are normally people who have been medical role players or have some experience as simulated patients and wish to take it to the next level.
If you are one of those people, you might find it helpful to ask yourself these questions below. If you are an experienced ACE, you could revisit this questionnaire or add more questions to the list. So, get a sheet of paper and answer these questions now.
1. When did you first start working as a medical role player and why?
2. When did you start working as an ACE, and how easy was the transition?
3. How often do you work as a medical role player or ACE?
4. What types of students have you worked with, and did their needs differ?
5. Have you been involved in OSCEs or any other type of examination?
6. Was the training we gave you adequate, or do you feel it was confusing?
7. What type of training would you find most useful?
8. Which aspect of your previous training (prior to medical roleplay/simulated patient/ACE) has helped you engage with your current role?
9. Where do you find resources that help with your current role?
10. What new resources would you find useful to help you improve the quality of teaching?
11. How much do you think your personality affects the learning outcome, and do you think you should spend more time on that aspect of your training?
12. Do you know how to teach a student how to develop rapport with a difficult patient?
13. What do you get, at a personal level, from teaching as an ACE?
14. How do you structure feedback to the student?
15. Do you always achieve your desired outcome when teaching, and if not, do you reflect on what you could do better next time?
We came up with these initial 15 questions, but we welcome any suggestions. As we ask these types of questions to our new ACEs, it’s essential to understand that none of us are experts or masters of our craft. Acknowledging that there is always room to learn something new helps us stay vigilant. Our honesty fosters implicit trust from our students, and they feel that we are with them on their journey.
The type of people we are looking for are those who say, “C’mon chaps, let’s get stuck in,” not “Go on, chaps, off you go.” Lead from the front. We are there to work with the students, not talk at them. Build rapport with the students, have the flexibility to change your behaviour when you need to, be aware, and you and the students will achieve their desired outcomes.
Have an open mind and question everything! At the end of the day, that is what education should be about. That is how we grow and become better humans.
If you are interested in joining us or want to have a chat about our one-day training course aimed at potential ACEs on 13th May 2023 get in touch. Please contact: bobspour@meducateacademy.com or on 07870 611850