Book excerpt: Objective structured clinical examinations/exercises (OSCEs) using standardized patients (SPs) are an efficient means of surveying a diverse range of ability at any point along the continuum of medical education. An OSCE station can address multiple competency assessments across undergraduate, graduate, and continuing medical education. Nevertheless, organizing and enacting OSCEs is a major undertaking and, as with most other educational projects, collaborating within and across specialties and disciplines only enriches the process. The production of an effective OSCE program requires strong leaders committed to the benefits of such assessments, as well as many individuals to plan, prepare, and implement the program. To address the need for general guidelines of best practice and consistent organizational stratagem, Objective Structured Clinicl Exams is a comprehensive how-to manual for OSCE implementation. It contains an overview of and criteria for best practice, a review of relevant literature, insight into the program’s influence throughout the healthcare system, and techniques for fine-tuning existing programs. Accompanying charts, graphs and sample forms are included to make this book the single resource for any educator interested in creating or improving a standardized patient program.