Describes a comparative longitudinal study of the development of medically fragile infants who entered intervention programs at 3 and 18 months. Reports similar outcomes on functioning measures for the first two annual assessments but higher scores in the third year for infants who received intervention earlier. (BCY)

This article describes a model of comprehensive and coordinated services in developmental disability medicine developed for children and adults in Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia. Key features of the model are a conjoint structure between government departments of health and community services, multiple medical specialty clinics, and…

Notes that health maintenance organizations (HMOs) provide large volume of health care services to older Americans. Contends that HMOs must reexamine general practice of equating utilization of services with health care need and collect better population-based information, including measures of health status. Discusses data elements widely…

The University of Hartford's nursing school offers a clinical experience for registered nurse/bachelor of science in nursing students in homeless shelters. In exchange for tuition assistance, the nurse interns gain insight into the issue of homelessness and health care for this at-risk, hard-to-reach population. (SK)

Physician impact analysis (PIA) is a planning tool intended to provide a way to evaluate the impact of a new or replacement physician's practice profile on the clinical program priorities, staffing resources, and costs of a hospital. Key methods for PIA and issues related to its use are considered. (SLD)

A psychiatric-hospital administrator describes how she agreed to be a foster parent for a troubled girl who was medically fragile. Together, and with community help, they formed Golden Buckets, an organization that provides therapeutic foster care for medically dependent children and their families. (MKA)

Reviews possible links between obesity and borderline-personality disorder and discusses treatment approaches for those individuals demonstrating such comorbidity. Approaches include modification of current techniques for obesity treatment and incorporation of psychodynamic counseling specific to borderline-personality disorder. (Author/GCP)

Reports on efforts at several universities to encourage more male students to use student health services, including establishment of male-only health clinics. Programs at the University of Colorado (Boulder), San Francisco State University (California), University of Rochester (New York), and Tulane University (Louisiana) are noted. (DB)

Studies linkages between mental and general health care with mental health staff in rural health centers. Staff identified roles, benefits, and barriers to linkages. Benefits included increased access; coordination; promotion of more holistic sense of health care. Barriers were lack of space, differences among health disciplines, and…

Describes the practices of homeopathy and how they affect the scope of practice of school nurses. Includes a definition of homeopathy, a discussion of remedies and the specific symptoms for which they are effective, and an examination of conditions treatable by homeopathic physicians. Nine guidelines for managing homeopathic products in the school…

Finds that most chronically ill older patients believed it was appropriate to be informed about their condition and options, but did not believe it appropriate to involve them in medical decision making; and that those who were older, less educated, and who had diminished cognitive capacity perceived involvement as particularly inappropriate. (SR)

Reviews sociological gerontology in Canada in four areas: (1) inequality, population aging, and the social construction of aging; (2) retirement and income security; (3) health, health care services, and health policy; and (4) family relations and caregiving. Identifies the importance of social structures for individual experience of aging.…

This analysis of 2,106 cases of severe mental retardation found that only 20% of these cases could have been prevented (41% of the cases with genetic etiology and 46% of the cases with environmental causes), assuming full utilization of currently available medical and/or educational knowledge and interventions. (DB)

Discusses the roles of Lebanese health care systems and the American University of Beirut. Notes that morbidity burdens of geriatric populations can overwhelm health infrastructures already unable to meet prevention and treatment needs of a younger population with relatively low-cost, easy-to-prevent, easy-to-treat illnesses. Expresses Lebanon's…

Examines how student health care in a K-8 Title I district functioned overall and how school administrators interacted with on-campus health care providers. Minorities received inadequate care. Administrators did not routinely associate students' health with their school performance and were not adept at assisting providers. (Contains 65…