Papers collected in this volume were prepared for and presented at a conference designed to (1) develop improved information on the status of women as health care providers in the United States and selected countries and (2) provide for consideration by an international audience, strategies used in other countries to improve the status and participation of women as health care providers which might be adapted for use in the United States. Topics include approaches to correcting the underrepresentation of women in the health care professions; improving the utilization of women in health occupations in which they are numerically well represented; organization of nurses and allied health and support personnel; new roles for women in health care delivery; and the role of women in health care decisionmaking. A list of conference participants provides their professional addresses. Summary viewpoints of some conference participants reflecting the needs of women health care workers and consumers are included along with a copy of the conference program. (LAS)