The literature concerning medication effects on cognitive functioning and test results is reviewed, along with guidelines for treatment-team members to help assure proper prescribing and monitoring of medication to achieve maximum therapeutic effect with minimal side effects. (Author/DLS)

The article reports on an outbreak of mycoplasma pneumoniae at the California Polytechnic State University including a historical background of the disease, clinical features, laboratory findings for treated patients, treatment, and clinical clues for diagnosis. (JMF)

Descriptions of the seven most common congenital heart defects occurring in school-age children are offered followed by general precautions and restrictions necessary because of the condition. (JMF)

Discusses the use and impact of electronic diagnostic, monitoring, and prosthetic instruments in health care. (MLH)

Responses from 132 of 350 home health nurses identified techniques and skills associate degree nurses (ADNs) should acquire to work for home health agencies. Accredited ADN programs reported that only 24 of the techniques are taught in all programs and 55 of the skills are taught in 90% of the programs. (SK)

Discusses what constitutes health care in society, the nature of the healer and healing, and rationing of health care. Outlines foundational values for a health care system: justice, patient autonomy, hope, and mercy, and suggests implications for health professions education. (SK)

Describes how medical schools hope to improve the Bush administration's low opinion of a 39-year-old federal program, the Health Professions program, that provides money to train minority health professionals. (EV)

The parent of a child with a physical disability that has not been conclusively diagnosed recounts the family's frustrations in seeking medical diagnosis and treatment. (DB)

Investigated differences in use of and expenditures for children's health services across stages of family life cycle and how family characteristics affected medical care use and expenditures for children differently, depending on family life cycle stage. Found variation across family life cycle stages in terms of children's mean number of…

Notes that hospitalized adolescents are often participants in psychosocial research. Presents examples of studies within four approaches (instructional, theoretical, informational, experimental) to describe behaviors of hospitalized adolescents. Discusses impact of various illness states (acute, chronic, terminal) and readiness of adolescent to be…

Psychotropic drug-prescribing patterns for 474 adults with mental retardation residing at an intermediate-care facility were examined for a 10-year period. Results indicated a progressive, marked decrease in total psychotropic drug usage and changes in the type of drugs prescribed with overall decline in drug usage. (Author/DB)

Examined clinical and social-structural factors contributing to hospitalization of nursing home residents. Using participant observation and event analysis of acute-illness episodes, concluded that 48.2 percent of nursing home patient (N=215) hospitalizations could have been avoided. Identified insufficient numbers and training of nurses, lack of…

Contends that the aging of the population and the widespread prevalence of significant mental and physical disabilities create ethical dilemmas in providing care. Discusses two dilemmas, competency to refuse treatment, and recompense for prior mistreatment as illustrations. (Author/ABL)

The composition, ojbectives, and perceptions of the medical care team which has evolved over the last 10 years to provide acute care for injured persons at the finish line of the Boston Marathon are described, as well as as an ancillary group which maintains medical records and defines injury patterns. (Author/CB)

Presents a connectionist approach to modeling that relies on neural networks to control conventional simulations of multimedia clinical patient simulations. These neural networks simplify the medical expert's task of validating and maintaining patient simulations with diagnostic capabilities and serves as the basis of clinical decision support…