Initial analysis of pilot studies in 2023 at six colleges of osteopathic medicine (COM) campuses show promising results regarding the feasibility of on-campus standardized assessment of fundamental osteopathic clinical skills of osteopathic medical students.
In particular, initial reliability estimates for assessment of patient-physician communication and respectfulness skills exceeded expectations (r > 0.80). More than 775 students participated in the program and had the opportunity to provide insights on the activity from their perspective, including both positive and constructive advice for future research.
The faculty and staff at these COMs worked hard during the entire process, and there were many opportunities to explore how standardized assessments can be delivered as part of a distributed administration model.
One faculty member stated, “Thank you so much! This has been an amazing experience. Your team has been wonderful to work with throughout this Pilot. We truly believe in the importance of this work and look forward to all that we learn. We look forward to feedback and improving our process. It is a great time to be a DO!”
Planning for Phase 2 of on-campus clinical skills testing pilots in 2024 is underway, with details and information for interested stakeholders to be announced by September 30, 2023. This phase will include rolling preparation times, a longer administration window, simplified case content, and new technology collaborations.
COM Dean Verification of Clinical Skills Competencies Accepted Until 2027
The NBOME will continue to accept clinical skills verifications from COM deans through the Class of 2027. This verification from the dean indicates that a COM graduate has demonstrated fundamental osteopathic clinical skills at the level required for graduation, and fulfills this eligibility requirement for COMLEX-USA Level 3.
Extending the attestation pathway provides the NBOME additional opportunities to modify and enhance the prototype assessment model used in these initial pilot studies by exploring other administrative models, developing and field testing new content, enhancing the scoring tools and quality assurance, and gathering additional evidence to support validity. As part of the ongoing validation of the C3DO, we will continue to seek stakeholder input regarding the pilot administrations and the potential role of COM-based assessment in the licensure arena.
What remains constant is the dedication of the NBOME to protect the public by ensuring the osteopathic physicians who care for them have demonstrated competency in foundational osteopathic clinical skills that meet a national standard for licensure.
For classes graduating in 2028 and beyond, the NBOME will communicate any changes to the eligibility pathway for COMLEX-USA Level 3, including verification of clinical skills standards and further potential enhancements to the overall COMLEX-USA program, by July 2025.