Center for Clinical Assessment, Teaching & Simulation (CCAT)

Dr. Hood-Watson smiling while in the Sim Lab — Center for Clinical Assessment, Teaching & Simulation (CCAT)

Excellent Learning & Teaching Space

The College of Medicine has a dedicated Center for Clinical Assessment and Teaching with 8,500 square feet of space for teaching and assessment. The center includes three small classroom/conference spaces (20-24 seats each) and a clinical skills suite consisting of 10 examination rooms, corresponding observation rooms, and staging areas for trainers and standardized patients.

Updated Facilities

In 2011, the CCAT was fully updated - all examination rooms were equipped with Clinical Teaching Audiovisual units and B-Line SimCapture units, providing for the digital capture and assessment of clinical skills using validated assessment checklists synched with simulator patient parameters or standardized patient findings.

Improved Metrics & Collaboration with the Healthcare Simulation Center

Archived data from these systems is now linked through B-Line software with the MUSC Healthcare Simulation Center to improve collaborative teaching and learner assessment.

Standardized Patient Program

What is a Standardized Patient?

Standardized Patients are trained to portray a patient in a medical situation in a standardized way to allow for accurate assessment of a student's clinical performance. Standardized patients are employed by MUSC to facilitate the teaching and learning of our clinical students.

Realistic Cases

Using an extensive database of case studies, the Standardized Patients are able to exhibit realistic symptoms and complaints to give the students an enhanced learning experience with a real "patient". This gives students an opportunity to practice clinical skills like interviewing, physical examination, and clinical diagnosis in a low-risk setting.

Faculty & Staff

Jennifer Ciccone, MSN, RN, CHSE
Director
Center for Clinical Assessment & Teaching (CCAT)
cicconej@musc.edu
873-792-0426
Colbert Education Center/Library
Room 200C

Responsibilities: Oversees the Center for Clinical Assessment, Teaching & Simulation (CCAT). She trains standardized patients for teaching and evaluation sessions for the Fundamentals of Patient Care, College of Medicine clerkships, College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy, Physicians Assistants and other programs, assists with clinical case development, and oversees clinical skills exams.

Allison Audett
Program Coordinator
Center for Clinical Assessment & Teaching (CCAT)
audett@musc.edu
843-792-7832
Colbert Education Center/Library
Room 200B

Responsibilities: Coordinates activities for the Center for Clinical Assessment, Teaching, & Simulation (CCAT) to include providing training and supervision for the standardized patients, supporting the use of the B-line software to record and track educational events, and overseeing the CCAT environment to ensure that supplies are available and that all equipment is in working order.