Completing the OSCE is a race against the clock. With eight minutes to complete a short case, and nineteen minutes to complete a long, you need to think clearly and quickly - the last thing you want is to hear the bell ring when you’re just getting started!
An organised and structured approach will make all the difference. Between cases, take time to reset. It doesn’t matter how the previous station went, the next one is a fresh start and your slate is clean.
Short Cases
Your approach needs to be focussed - short cases cover only certain components of a consultation. My tips:
Long Cases
The long case generally represents an entire consultation from history taking, through to management and follow up. My tips:
And for every case, do sweat the small stuff. You are being assessed on your communication skills and rapport as well as your clinical decision making – introduce yourself to every patient. And remember to wash your hands – look out for the hand gel!
Now, practice! Every patient at work is a short or long case... just keep an eye on the time.
Medcast has an OSCE Preparation course that helps registrars prepare for the OSCE Exam. The course includes live practice webinars, that provide participants the opportunity to practice cases and receive feedback from our experienced Medical Educators. Read more about the course here.
Chandelle is a GP and Medical Educator on the Central Coast of NSW.
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