Clinical Skills Assessment
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About Clinical Skills Assessment
Osteopathic clinical skills—such as building a patient history, performing physical examination, structural examination and osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), physician-patient communication and interpersonal skills, clinical decision making, and others—are essential to the practice of osteopathic medicine. Assessment of these competencies remains fundamental for professional self-regulation and for protecting the health of the public.
A History of Clinical Skills Assessment
COMLEX-USA Level 2-Performance Evaluation (Level 2-PE) was administered from 2004 to 2020 and was designed to measure competencies in fundamental osteopathic clinical skills within two scored examination domains: the Humanistic Domain and the Biomedical/Biomechanical Domain.
The exam included 12 encounters with standardized patients, and candidates were assessed on their abilities in areas including: physician-patient communication; interpersonal skills; incorporating hands-on physical exams and building a patient history; performing osteopathic manipulative treatment; and documentation in a SOAP note format. COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE was suspended indefinitely in February 2021 and formally discontinued in June 2022.
COMLEX-USA candidates are currently verified by attestation from their COM dean that they are proficient in these important clinical skills.
Looking to the Future
Through the Core Competency Capstone for DOs (C3DO) pilot program, the NBOME is exploring new and innovative ways to partner with schools and colleges of osteopathic medicine (COMs) to support assessment of these skills that align to a national standard.
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