Minn. Medical School Switches To Mannequins To Teach Pelvic Exams

Starting this semester, second-year students at the University of Minnesota Medical School will practice pelvic exams on mannequins instead of human patients, the AP/Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. According to school officials, one reason for the switch is to reduce costs. The school has been spending more than $150,000 annually to recruit and train practice patients for the students to examine in class (AP/Minneapolis Star Tribune, 2/18).

Under the new curriculum, students will work with plastic models and observe as a faculty member conducts a pelvic exam on a patient. Previously, students had one opportunity to practice on a patient during their second year, with the next opportunity coming six months to one year later, during their third-year obstetrics and gynecology clerkship, USA Today reports. Sharon Allen -- a professor of family medicine and community health and course director of the class called, "Physician and Patient" -- said, "They were doing [the pelvic exam] once, as more of a comfort and exposure type of experience, but not really learning the skill until their clerkship." The Patient and Physician class is students' introduction to interviewing and examining patients. Allen added, "We looked at the cost-benefit ratio and didn't think it was worth it" to have real patients.

Linda Perkowski, associate dean for curriculum and evaluation, said the decision was not solely financial, adding, "Money is important but we would never decide something just based on money" (Epstein, USA Today, 2/19). Jan van Dis, an assistant professor, said school officials are aware of students' concerns that the change might affect the quality of their education, adding that the decision could be reversed if the new curriculum is not effective (AP/Minneapolis Star Tribune, 2/18).


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