Thousands of medical students nationwide are calling for the elimination of a licensing exam that tests their patient care skills, according to a STAT report.
Here are four things to know about the initiative.
1. The initiative is led by students from Harvard Medical School in Boston. However, it has drawn support nationwide, with more than 6,000 students, residents and faculty at 130 medical schools signing a petition calling for the National Board of Medical Examiners to eliminate the test, according to the report.
2. Specifically, medical students participating in the initiative specifically have issues with the Step 2 CS, a role-playing test where students are asked to examine and diagnose patients or actors pretending to have particular conditions and fill out their medical charts, according to the report. It's designed to test how well the students are able to interview patients, do physical exams and explain their findings, the report notes.
3. Medical students argue that the licensing exam, which is only offered in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and Philadelphia, is isn't cost-effective, or effective in weeding out incompetent physicians, according to STAT. Because the exam is only offered in selected cities, many students have to pay hundreds of dollars for flights and hotel accommodations, in addition to the registration fee for the exam itself, which is $1,275.
4. Peter Katsufrakis, MD, senior vice president of the National Board of Medical Examiners, acknowledged the exam isn't difficult, but noted 871 students failed it in the 2013-2014 academic year, according to the report. Additionally, he told STAT, most medical school faculty are too busy to observe third- and fourth-year students doing a complete physical exam, so it's important to test those skills as part of the licensing process.