SCORPIO: a system of medical teaching.

Reform in medical education is gaining momentum through the efforts of organizations such as the World Federation for Medical Education. Through the advocacy of such bodies, educational priorities have been redefined to widen the range of educational settings, upgrade evaluation systems and promote the training of teachers as educators. A system of medical teaching has been developed which addresses these issues. It is known by the acronym SCORPIO. The key elements of the system are that it is Structured, Clinical, Objective Referenced, Problem-based, Integrated and Organized. SCORPIO involves delivering a syllabus through a series of lecture-demonstrations at which students, teachers and patients gather at a defined area. Following a short introductory lecture, students rotate in small groups, through a series of teaching stations. These stations are structured to provide students with a problem-based, integrated learning experience. Assessment stations may be included before, during or after the teaching circuit. The teaching system has been formally evaluated over a period of time and now has an established place in the curriculum of this medical school.