The Clinical Learning Laboratory gives GA-PCOM students the opportunity to practice clinical skills, develop crucial communication abilities and demonstrate that they have achieved clinical competence. Through the use of standardized patients and a human simulator, the lab allows students to practice with patients in a supportive environment prior to treating real patients. Patient conditions and problems can be developed and altered to suit educational objectives and allow students to successfully and confidently transition into practice.
Standardized patients are trained to document the skills of students and to provide honest and constructive feedback to them based on clinical performance. In addition, student sessions with the standardized patients are videotaped for evaluation and review by faculty and students.
The lab also utilizes a state-of-the-art human patient simulator. Nicknamed STAN, for "standard man," the human patient simulator is a full-body mannequin that breathes, has a heartbeat, pupils that react to light and medications, a pulse that can be felt at five locations and lung sounds. He can also talk. STAN can be programmed to simulate almost any medical situation that might occur and accurately mirrors human responses to medical procedures.