Highlights from Our Standardized Patient Event with ICOM
Alexis, Health Messenger and Athlete Leader, getting ready for the event to start!
A Standardized Patient Event is a structured learning experience where medical students practice clinical and communication skills with volunteers who simulate real patient encounters. It creates a safe, supportive space for students to refine not just their examination techniques, but their empathy, adaptability, and bedside manner. Prior to this event, students from the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine participated in an Inclusive Health Training focused on respectful communication, understanding intellectual and developmental disabilities, and delivering truly patient-centered care.
That preparation set the tone for a meaningful day in partnership with ICOM.
Where Clinical Skills Meet Human Connection
While medical education often emphasizes diagnostics and technique, this event centered on something equally important: how care is delivered.
From the moment athletes and student doctors began interacting, it was clear that this experience would go beyond checklists and clinical competencies. It was about building trust. Creating comfort. Meeting each athlete where they are.
And the students rose to the occasion.
Small Adjustments, Big Impact
Throughout the event, students were intentional about making the environment welcoming and engaging.
Some turned portions of the physical exam into lighthearted games, easing tension and helping athletes feel more relaxed. Others blended conversation seamlessly into the exam itself, asking questions while listening to heart and lung sounds, or chatting about hobbies while checking reflexes, so the experience felt natural rather than clinical.
Many students paid close attention to energy and body language. They adjusted their tone, pace, and enthusiasm to match the athlete in front of them. Instead of rushing through required steps, they slowed down when needed, offered reassurance, and made eye contact.
They also asked about favorite sports teams, weekend plans, and personal interests, reminding athletes that they were seen as whole people, not just patients.
These small, thoughtful choices transformed routine exams into meaningful interactions.
Hearing Directly from the Athletes
The most powerful moments of the day came from athlete feedback.
Athletes shared that they felt comfortable and respected. They appreciated when students asked permission before any exam or physical touch. They noticed when students spoke directly to them rather than defaulting to a caregiver. They felt valued when students spent extra time with them instead of rushing.
And perhaps most tellingly, they felt more relaxed when conversations included topics they genuinely enjoy.
Those reflections underscore something fundamental: dignity, consent, and authentic human connection are not extras in healthcare, they are essentials.
Why Experiences Like This Matter
Events like this shape the kind of physicians students become.
By partnering with Special Olympics Idaho, ICOM students strengthened more than their clinical skills. They practiced inclusive communication. They deepened their cultural competence. They learned how to build trust with patients who may have previously experienced barriers in healthcare settings.
Most importantly, they saw firsthand that great healthcare isn’t just about diagnosis and treatment.
It’s about communication.
It’s about trust.
It’s about making every patient feel heard.
This was more than a training exercise. It was a step toward building a more inclusive healthcare system, one conversation at a time.
