title: Do we need USPs?
abstract: Australia is lacking the vital data relating to current practices needed to perform a meaningful evaluation of the quality of care in general practice. This article proposes that unannounced standardised patients (USPs) represent a valuable method of measuring actual performance in general practice. Constructive debate about the use of USPs may progress its acceptance as a valid tool for performance assessment and quality improvement.
authors.affiliation: Monash University, Victoria. halperin@med.monash.edu.au
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Halperin
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005194:Family Practice / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit / Q000379:methods*; D016544:Patient Simulation; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000379:methods*