New Changes to USMLE Step 2 CS Exam starting June 2012

[USMLE-Syndrome]

New changes to the USMLE Step 2 CS Exam according to ECFMG.org

The changes will take effect in 17 June 2012

One of the recommendations emerging from the Comprehensive Review of USMLE (CRU) process is that USMLE consider ways to further enhance the testing methods used in the Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) examination. As previously announced in the 2012 Bulletin of Information, these enhancements are scheduled for implementation in mid-2012. These changes will be introduced in Step 2 CS for examinations delivered beginning June 17, 2012.

The reporting schedule for examinees testing from June 17, 2012 through November 3, 2012 will be 2-3 weeks longer than for examinees testing during other periods.

More information about the Step 2 CS score reporting dates for examinations delivered in 2012 is provided in the Step 2 CS Score Reporting Schedule.

Changes to the assessment of Communication and Interpersonal Skills (CIS)
The CIS subcomponent of Step 2 CS has been redesigned to assess a fuller range of competencies. Background information about these changes is provided on pages 5-6 of the Fall 2010/Winter 2011 NBME Examiner. The new approach divides communication skills into a series of functions. These functions have been further divided into sub-functions. Beginning June 17, 2012, the Communication and Interpersonal Skills (CIS) scale will focus on five functions:

Fostering the relationship
Gathering information
Providing information
Making decisions: basic
Supporting emotions: basic
Several additional functions are still under development; these include making decisions: advanced; supporting emotions: advanced; and helping patients with behavior change. A list of the functions and sub-functions is available.

Changes to the patient note
Also beginning June 17, 2012, a new patient note will be introduced. The patient note is completed by the Step 2 CS examinee after the encounter with the standardized patient. In the new note, examinees will continue to be asked to document relevant history and physical examination findings and to list initial diagnostic studies to be ordered. Examinees will also be asked to create a reasoned, focused differential (maximum of three diagnoses) listed in order of likelihood and to indicate the evidence obtained from the history and physical examination that supports (or refutes) each potential diagnosis. The new patient note provides examinees with an opportunity to document their analysis of a patient’s possible diagnoses. A sample of the new patient note is available for review.

Practice materials
Updated practice materials for Step 2 CS will be posted to the USMLE website in March 2012. These include the Step 2 CS Content Description and General Information Booklet, onsite orientation video, sample patient notes, and a simulation of the program for typing patient notes.

Reference:
http://www.ecfmg.org/news/2011/12/20...s-examination/

[georgessamuel]

Are these changes a big deal so that we should consider making the exam before they happen or these are considered small changes?
thx

[StepTaker]

I don't think they are big deal, as you can see above, the changes are mainly around the patient note and how SPs rank candidates specifically.

I wouldn't kill myself just trying to do the CS before those changes.

-

[USMLE cell]

Dear all,

Thank you for being generous and putting lots and lots of information in this forum that helps and boosts up energy at the same time.

I am graduate from December 2011 and began studying thenafter for Step 1. I had gone to USA few months back and have a B1 visa till May 2012. As I am studying, I have come to know that many of my senior graduates are planning to give CS exams before May 2012 as everyone has been talking about how difficult it is going to get to pass CS after May 2012. I know that things are going to change but I am now in a confusion.... should I give Step 2 CS before or should I wait and go along as I have planned to give CS after giving my Step 1?

Any suggestions?

[StepTaker]

I replied to your question in my post above!

You shouldn't be thinking about that too much. The changes are not drastic, they are just minor small changes. I don't think you should be flipping your plan upside down just because of these minor changes.

[USMLE cell]

Originally Posted by StepTaker

I replied to your question in my post above!

You shouldn't be thinking about that too much. The changes are not drastic, they are just minor small changes. I don't think you should be flipping your plan upside down just because of these minor changes.

Thank you for your suggestion, Step Taker!

[georgessamuel]

seems most of the change concerns the assessments, but the same job to do..
will it be ind of harder to pass?
r there gonna be different study material or the same?
thx guys

[DRFP]

http://www.usmle.org/pdfs/practice-m...tient-note.pdf

Look at the new note, yeah its way different then the CS I just passed
more details
You have to now give the exam findings HX and PE supporting the DX
WOW more practice

[raiq101]

what i know that this changes will be effective from 15 may 2012

[KINDEL]

hi,
i was just wondering how the step 2 cs is going to look like starting june 17th.

i check the PN and saw that in the history part it says:

OLD:

HISTORY – Include significant positives and negatives from history of present illness, past medical history, review of system(s), social history and family history.

NEW:
DESCCRIBE THE HISTORY YOU JUST OBTAINED FROM THE PATIENT. INCLUDE ONLY INFORMATION (PERTINENT POSITIVE AND NEGTIVES) RELEVANT TO THIS PATIENT'S PROBLEM

what does this change mean? no need for social history and family history?

in addition, the usmle gave the list of behaviors and communication skills:
http://www.usmle.org/pdfs/step-2-cs/...avior_List.pdf

it says, as an example, that helping patient with a behavioral change is "under development".
does it mean i am not required to advise patients about smoking, drugs, unsafe sex and etc.?

i would appreciate if someone can explain all these changes.

thanks!!!

[usmlemission]

Mid-2012 temporary shutdown of Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) testing; score report delay for examinees testing June 17, 2012 through November 3, 2012
Posted: March 22, 2012
As previously announced, changes to the Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) examination are scheduled for implementation beginning June 17, 2012. As a consequence of the introduction of these changes, exam scheduling and result reporting will be impacted for some individuals.
There will be no Step 2 CS examinations delivered from May 20 through June 16, 2012.
The interval between testing and score reporting for examinees testing from June 17, 2012 through November 3, 2012 will be 2-3 weeks longer than for examinees testing during other periods.
Examinees will continue to receive a graphical performance profile on the second page of their Step 2 CS score report. However, due to the need to accumulate data on these new changes over an extended period, individuals who test on or after June 17, 2012 will see less detailed feedback on their graphical performance profiles than has been provided to examinees in the past. The performance profiles are provided as an assessment tool for the examinee’s benefit and are not reported or verified to any third party. The profiles summarize relative areas of strength and weakness to aid in self assessment.

Please note that examinees who test on or before December 31, 2012 will have scores reported in time for the 2013 “Match.”

More information about the Step 2 CS score reporting dates for examinations delivered in 2012 is provided in the Step 2 CS Score Reporting Schedule.

Updated practice and orientation materials for Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) exam have been posted
Posted: March 22, 2012
As previously announced, a new patient note and redesigned Communication and Interpersonal Skills subcomponent will be introduced in the USMLE Step 2 CS examinations beginning June 17, 2012. Updated practice and orientation materials reflecting these changes have been posted to the USMLE website.
Examinees who plan to take the Step 2 CS examination on or after June 17, 2012 should review the updated materials, which include:

• An updated version of the CS Content Description and General Information booklet
• An updated onsite orientation CS video
• A new version of the practice patient note program
• New sample patient notes
Changes to the Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) Content Description and General Information booklet

The sections of the booklet that have been updated include:
The Patient Encounter section (p 6) includes an updated description of the role of the examinee in the Step 2 CS examination.
The Patient Note section (pp 8, 15-20) includes a description of the new patient note.
The Scoring the Step 2 CS Examination section (pp 11-12) describes changes to how the Integrated Clinical Encounter (ICE) and Communication and Interpersonal Skills (CIS) subcomponents will be scored. For the ICE subcomponent, standardized patients (SPs) will complete checklists for the physical examination portion of the patient encounter. SPs will no longer complete checklists for the history portion of the patient encounter; an examinee’s ability to gather appropriate history will continue to be assessed in the patient note. SPs assess CIS performance using a checklist based on observable behaviors; this replaces the global rating of communication skills using a series of generic rating scales.
Changes to the patient note

The new patient note provides examinees with an opportunity to document their analysis of a patient's possible diagnoses. Samples of the new patient note and a program for practicing the patient note are available.

Changes to the Onsite Orientation for Step 2 CS video

The new version of the video includes an updated description of the patient note program.