How can Improval help me pass the SCA?
The SCA is an exam for doctors training to be GPs. GP Registrars have to see 12 consultations with professional role players as simulated patients, each consultation lasts 12 minutes. The exam is done remotely and can be done at a GP surgery. The RCGP website has a good guide to all things SCA on their website.
Improval provides a range of tools for GP training and most are geared towards improving consultation skills, a key part of the SCA. Together they provide a variety of techniques to practice and get constructive feedback to help you have the best chance of passing the exam.
Recording consultations
Improval Record is an iOS and Android app to securely record patient consultations. They can also be recorded directly on the Improval website using a webcam. The consultations can then be reviewed on the Improval website and shared with your Educational Supervisor where they can add point in time comments. You can also get AI feedback on the consultation. This offers a variety of models for feedback including general consultation skills; COT style and feedback as if the consultation was an SCA case. This is worth a try and extremely impressive. It is not intended to replace Supervisor feedback of course but instead to complement it.
Security headlines
- All data stays within the UK
- Videos stored on a secure, encrypted server
- Recordings deleted automatically after 3 months
- If AI used then no data is used to train the model
More information is on our Recording security page.
Patient simulation
Improval has a Patient simulation tool where you can talk to an AI using a variety of different scenarios. Though this isn't as good as real life patient interactions it does provide a "safe" space in which to practice different techniques. You can get all the same feedback as with a real consultation, either from your Supervisor or AI, and this means you can try specific situations again after reflecting on the feedback given.
You can pick from a selection of written cases, or ask the system to generate a case for you for a particular Clinical experience group. There is also an Exam mode that provides an SCA like experience, with an initial timed period to see case details and then a random case from SCA style cases.
Video calls
As part of the meeting management within Improval there is the ability to hold a video call. This can be with 2 or more people. There is also the option to record. For groups of 2 GP registrars or more this can be used to role play patient doctor cases. These can then recorded and you can get the same feedback as for any consultation recordings.
Progression insights
Most exciting of all you can get feedback on how you seem to be consulting over a period of time. The more consultations, real or simulated, on the system the more accurate this will be. This looks at what is improving and also areas to focus on.
Developing this further
The SCA is a hard and stressful exam. We want to provide tools that are practical and make a difference. If you are a GP Registrar, or otherwise involved in GP training, and would like more information on any of the above please do get in touch.
