Step 2 CS: Live and Online USMLE Step 2 CS Classes
The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 2 CS is an 8-hour long examination in which each student is tested for Clinical Skills through twelve patient encounters. To pass this exam it is mandatory to pass all three components: The integrated Clinical Encounter (ICE), Communication and Interpersonal Skills (CIS) and Spoken English Proficiency (SEP).
It is best to schedule your exam at the earliest, as the dates get filled very quickly. You can also post your preferred dates on the USMLE Official Website, so that when a student cancels his exam, you will get a notification email. The exam centers for USMLE Step 2 CS Exam are based in Houston, Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Philadelphia.
USMLE Step 2 CS Exams
The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 2 CS exam consists of a series of patient encounters in which the examinee must see standardized patients (SPs), take a history, do a physical examination, determine differential diagnoses, and then write a patient note based on their determinations. The topics covered are common outpatient or Emergency Room visits which are encountered in the fields of internal medicine, surgery, psychiatry, pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology. Examinees are expected to investigate the simulated patient’s chief complaint, as well as obtain a thorough assessment of their past medical history, medications, allergies, social history (including alcohol, tobacco, drug use, sexual practices, etc.), and family history. Usually, examinees have one telephone encounter, speaking to an SP through a microphone during which there is no physical exam component.
Examinees are allowed 15 minutes to complete each encounter and 10 minutes for the patient note for a single patient encounter. The patient note is slightly different from a standard SOAP note. For the exam note, the examinees will document the pertinent facts relating to the history of present illness as well as elements of the past medical history, medication history, allergies, social history, family history, and physical exam. The examinees will then state up to 3 differential diagnoses relating to the simulated patient’s symptoms, and tests or procedures to investigate the simulated patient’s complaints.[5] The examinees should also list pertinent positive and negative findings to support each potential diagnosis.[5] The examinees will not recommend any specific treatments in the note in contrast to a true clinic SOAP note (i.e., IV fluids, antibiotics, or other medications). Over the course of an 8-hour exam day, the examinees complete 12 such encounters. Examinees are required to type patient notes on a computer.[6]
USMLE Step 2 CS replaced the former ECFMG Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA) effective June 14, 2004. The last administration of the ECFMG Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA) took place on April 16, 2004. When the CSA first started it was strictly for Foreign Medical Graduates while US graduates were not required to do it. That was considered a double standard in the US medical licensing process. Later the CSA was replaced with the USMLE step 2 CS and became inclusive to all medical graduates.
Why do students Fail Step 2 CS Exam?
Almost one third of students fail The Step 2 CS Exam. There are numerous reasons for a failed Step 2 CS Exam.
- Most of the students focus on demonstrating their clinical knowledge. However, the way you communicate with the patient, your smile and your empathetic behavior are of the same importance as your clinical knowledge.
- Another reason why students fail is the lack of confidence. The students start feeling nervous as they enter the exam hall. The best way to overcome this exam anxiety is by practicing many times before taking the exam.
- Bad pronunciation is also a reason many foreign students fail this test. This test requires solid English proficiency — especially in using medical terminology.
- Poor time management is one of the leading causes of failure. Students tend to spend too much time on questioning and the physical examination. As a result they have insufficient time to complete the counseling session.
- Most of the students think that their typing speed is fast enough to complete the patient notes within the given time. If you don’t practice and improve your typing speed, this places additional stress on you on exam day. Incomplete patient notes are also a leading cause of failing students.
How to Pass USMLE Step 2 CS Exam?
Where to study? Gold USMLE Review is the most reliable and comprehensive source for preparing for the exam. The step 2 cs course compiles most of the cases usually given in the test. Don’t try to use different sources — you may become confused.
Practice with a live partner: Practicing with a live partner is the step most of the students tend to skip. Practicing on Skype doesn’t give the opportunity of face to face practice. It is not essential to select a fellow medical student for practice. You may practice with any friend or a family member.
Practice with a Timer: Practicing with a timer is very important. Most of the students think that they can manage well without practicing with a timer. On the day of the exam, they are stressed enough to think about time. If you practice all the cases using a timer, your brain will automatically manage your time.
Patient Gown: If you practice with a patient gown, on the day of exam you will feel comfortable while asking before removing the gown. Most of the students lose their valuable points because they don’t follow this protocol.
Note Cards: After practicing all the cases from “First Aid for USMLE Step 2 CS,” start making note cards for a second round. On each card there is a patient’s name, age, presenting symptoms and chief complaint. For difficult cases, practice over and over again.
Practice the Mnemonics: Mnemonics will help you ask all the questions that are required to prepare a complete patient note card.
- Address- 416 N Sam Houston Parkway E, Houston, Texas 77060
- Our Houston GoldUSMLE Center is located in a 6,500 SQUARE FT 20 medical exam room medical facility with over 100Gig bandwidth tele-health stations at suite 416E and we are located within walking distance to the real test center and Hyatt Place/Radisson Inn hotels
- OUR USMLE STEP 2 CS WORKSHOP COVERS ALL OF THE FOLLOWING FOR THE 2021 USMLE STEP 2 CS EXAM:
- Empathy Preparation: A Communication Instructor explains how to display Clinical
- Empathy. You will learn the Basic Understanding of Empathy for both Adult and Pediatric encounters. After the discuss you will practice your skills.
- Full Day Practice Examination with Several Standardized Patients Encounters in a medical-clinic environment. Each examination room is fully-equipped with all medical instruments, a stool, and an examination table – to prepare you for the actual exam.
- Computer generated announcements with time lines similar to what you will experience in the actual CS exam.
- Examination Proctor – to oversee the exam.
- Video monitored exam by Staff Physicians.
- Physician-evaluated and graded Patient Notes on most of your cases
- Multiple Unique Encounters – including phone encounters
- Encounters with Challenging Emotions and Questions
- Standardized Patient will provide you with 1-on-1 individualized feedback
- Receive individualized feedback on 100% of your cases
- Receive written feedback on all your cases.
- Feedback by a Staff Physician
- Discussion of Test Results – individualized for each student via one-on-one interaction with our Staff Physicians. [Recommendations are made for further improvements].
- Data Gathering and Data Interpretation: The morning is devoted to understanding how to approach various cases and what Physical Examination should be completed for each case.
- Review Clinical Knowledge related to Patient encounters.
- Review of Complex Cases: Blank Doorway,Rape, Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, Depression, Hallucinations etc.
- Practice Communication Skills from specific areas of your weaknesses with Communication Instructor and/or Standardized Patients. You are given specific scenarios that may pose a challenge for you in the actual examination and you practice the Interview, Closure, Counseling, and Challenging questions.
- Focused and Individualized assignments are given based on deficiencies seen during encounters and examination performance.
- Patient note assignment given
- Clinical Empathy Skills practiced with various scenarios.
- After class study instructions – given by our Physicians.
- Patient Note assignments discussed.
- Student-Instructor Wrap-up – at the conclusion of each Workshop each student is given direct access to the Physician Instructor.
- ***EVERY GOLD USMLE STEP2 CS workshop will consist of at least 1-2 Simulated 12 case Mock Exam. Please make your payment below and fill out the Registration Form above, we will attach your registration to your payment receipt and you will be sent a E-confirmation email with your receipt.
- ALL REGISTERED STUDENTS THAT HAVE MADE THE PAYMENT BELOW WILL RECEIVE AN E-CONFIRMATION LETTER TO GAIN ACCESS TO OUR CENTER.
2020
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2020-2021
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2020-2021
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