Discusses ethical and practical questions that arise in physician/patient interactions as a result of the rising prevalence of chronic illness, the growth of medical technology, and the increased differentiation of medical specialization. Issues considered include patients' rights, medical malpractice, informed consent, and the patient self-help…

Some problems in the changing pattern of relationships between bedside teaching, clinical research, and provision of medical services in academic hospitals are examined, including patient types, sophistication of medical intervention, and specialization. Four elements of government policy that might favor desirable development in these areas are…

One reason medical students favor specialization over generalist medicine (primary care) is a perception of generalist medicine as nonrigorous. Chaos science, a new field, reveals an intellectual basis for generalist medicine. The history, strengths, and limits of reductionist thinking in medicine and aspects of chaos theory illuminate this…

Medical school faculty members' broad understanding of their domains has atrophied as specialization has increased. Medical students need teachers who can integrate the specific areas of a subject with overarching themes. Expanding the values of the university to once again include the scholarship of integration and teaching would provide the best…

Not so long ago the occasional story would be told in the news that someone with a fascination for all things medical had spent months or even years masquerading as a doctor in a large and anonymous hospital. No doubt the absence of such stories today is due to heightened security and vigilance, partly as a result of the realization among hospital…

Gross anatomy is not only a rite of passage for medical students as they enter the world of practicing medicine but may also be an unrecognized fork in the road in their pursuit of choosing a medical specialty. Otolaryngology: head and neck surgery tends to be poorly represented in medical school curriculum, often only offered as an elective…

An autobiographical account by the army's chief logistical adviser to the surgeon general during World War II calls attention to the challenges of medical service planning and three postwar changes in medicine: demand for access to care; bigger federal biomedical research expenditures; and the rise of specialization. (Author/MSE)

This summary of a seminar meeting on economics issues and the "blindness system" addresses the economics of four service delivery models (charity, medical, public provider, and business models) and points to consider in selecting a model (professional specialization, integration, and client roles). A chart compares service delivery principles…

Identifies characteristics (such as cure claims, practitioner specialization, and questionable research) of controversial practices in early intervention. Evaluates 13 such practices grouped into medical, educational, and therapeutic categories and suggests reasons that professionals and parents adopt such practices. Suggestions for the field…

The conference described in this report had five objectives: to examine the existing curricula for medical librarianship in accredited library school programs; to examine trends in post-master's training programs for health sciences librarianship; to explore the relationship between graduate education for health sciences librarianship and the…

Given the current emphasis on educational pragmatism and specialization, a rift has developed between the proponents of technical education and the advocates of the liberal arts. The former, who rarely acknowledge that students continue to learn on the job, jealously seize every available credit hour for the presentation of technical knowledge.…

Poor teaching methods, misdirected student training, and failure to respond to the population's needs have placed American medical schools in a crisis. An emphasis on specialty medicine and high technology and graduation of excessive numbers of physicians exacerbate the crisis. Proposals to rectify the situation are presented. (TJH)

Issues and trends affecting professional education for public health careers are examined, including specialization shortages, physician faculty shortages, declining federal support, and changing student demographics. (MSE)

The basic curricular structure and courses deemed necessary to podiatric medical education are outlined and their rationale explained. Specialties appropriate to podiatric practice, such as electrophysiology and cardiovascular physiology, are noted, and the sequence of coursework suggested. (MSE)

The role of the university in medical education, specifically, the education of the medical practitioner is discussed. The challenge is to connect better the practicing physician to the evolving knowledge base and the scientific agenda to the world of practice. (MLW)