Summarizes principal features of 6 bills on health care reform introduced in the 103rd Congress as they relate to children. Proposals are compared on 11 major issues, highlighting the degree to which each bill would achieve universal coverage, access to care, equity of treatment, and quality of comprehensive care. (SLD)

Reviews what is known about child sex offenders and their treatment. The author discusses the role of paraphilia in child molestation and reviews what is known about juvenile and incest offenders and recidivism rates. What is known about recidivism of untreated offenders and treatment practices is also summarized. Recommendations conclude the…

Summarizes recommendations from the 1992 National Conference on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency Cardiac Care. Because team physicians may have to provide basic life support for athletes or spectators, knowing current (CPR) protocol is essential in developing emergency response plans and training personnel. Practice removing…

A dynamic simulation model, using census data, was used to examine child health policy initiatives for the prevention of mental retardation. Results suggested that reducing the proportion of children living in poverty would be more effective in reducing the incidence of mental retardation than medical interventions to improve outcomes for low…

Eight families deciding to use a feeding tube to meet the nutrition needs of their children with disabilities were interviewed over a two-year period. Family decision making in the context of quality of life was examined using a theoretical family systems model. Implications for future interventions are addressed. (Author/SW)

This article discusses fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) including causes, common characteristics, secondary characteristics, prevention, and treatment. Economic implications are noted which suggest that treatment costs are 100 times the cost of prevention programs. (DB)

A public health approach was used to eliminate pinworm from a system of community residential settings for individuals with developmental disabilities. The approach involved screening and treatment of staff members and clients living and working in close proximity to index cases, and prophylactically treating many clients and staff based on…

This article defines the concepts of medical technology and technology assessment and offers a five-level assessment scheme for the evaluation of medical technologies, including (1) biologic plausibility; (2) technical feasibility; (3) intermediate outcomes; (4) patient outcomes; and (5) societal outcomes. This scheme is applied to the use of…

A study investigated the relationship between in-patient hospital costs, charges, and length of stay and use of MEDLINE searches. Results indicate that, among patients for whom searches were conducted early in the case, these variables were significantly less than those for whom searches were conducted later. (Author/MSE)

Describes Pasadena, California's, Young and Healthy Project, a program based on the belief that all children, regardless of income, have the right to high-quality health care and early preventive care. Funded partly by a large foundation grant, the program offers all elementary and middle school students in the district medical, dental, and…

Investigated developmental patterns of cognitive performance over first 3 years of life in sample of 762 low birthweight premature children. Intelligence test scores were obtained at 12, 24, and 36 months adjusted age. Five developmental patterns were identified. Results reveal patterns of cognitive development can be discriminated by three…

Discusses the importance of child life specialists and programs in helping children cope with the stress and anxiety of hospital experiences. These specialists and programs promote children's growth and development both in the hospital and after returning home. (BB)

A 1990 survey of 281 health maintenance organizations found 42 were directly involved in graduate medical education, most through agreements with academic medical centers or teaching hospitals, to serve as an ambulatory care rotation site. One-sixth of these were accredited to serve as sponsoring organizations. Program model types were also…

Discusses the complex issues involved in decision making concerning the treatment of catastrophically ill children. Through several examples of actual cases, posits that decisions should be arrived at by considering the child's best interests rather than the prolongation of life or principles of social utility. (MDM)

The paper proposes a zero concept, health-oriented approach to applying informatics to two health care problems: first, the lack of easily understood and used terminology linking health problems and interventions to the concept of "health"; and second, the lack of a unifying principle on which to base all aspects of health care. (DB)