Objective: 
Published cost estimates for assessments using standardized patients (SPs) are highly variable and difficult to interpret because the types of charges used for the calculations are not consistent.  Our institution’s SP Program conducts teaching and/or assessment exercises for medical students in years 1 -4, nursing students, nurse practitioner students, and physician assistant students. Each exercise is unique in its characteristics as well as the resulting charges.  In order to offer exam estimates and project budgets, a past history of expenses was studied. This study focused on SP activities in the School of Medicine.

Methods: 
Using detailed records from past academic years, we reviewed all sources of expenditure for SP-based exercises.  For each activity, SP training sessions and SP portrayal hours were calculated. Food, training materials, DVD/video costs and parking tokens were also incorporated into the final cost of the exercise. Cost estimates did not include indirect costs such as staff salaries or facility usage fees. All exercises were analyzed and costs were calculated on a per student basis.  We then calculated the per student cost for SP-based activities over the four year curriculum.

Results: 
Our medical students participate in up to 20 different activities using SPs during training. Individual activity costs varied from $55 - $97 per student.  The total per student cost across the curriculum is ~$580.  By analyzing each activity, we were able to determine that the primary source of expense relates closely to the number of SP stations and actual SP portrayal hours.

Conclusion: 
Many of the SP activities at our intuition are supported from a central budget, thus evaluating the per student cost over the course of their medical education provides important information for ongoing budget projections.  Possible tuition fee options, such as charging students an SP lab fee, may become necessary in the future.