Explores extent to which physicians in Israel serve as gatekeepers for treatment of psychosocial problems and have contact with social workers. Gatekeeping variables included large caseloads, specializing in family medicine, practicing in a rural location, and being under age 55. Social work contact variables were affiliation with the largest…

This descriptive study of 25 patients (ages 3 to 35) with severe/profound mental retardation and self-injurious behavior (SIB) found that 7 patients had previously undiagnosed medical conditions likely to cause pain or discomfort. Six of the seven patients experienced decreased SIB with treatment of their medical conditions. Results support the…

A study of 147 school districts in Georgia examined the extent to which special health care procedures are performed in a school setting, the involvement of teachers performing special health care procedures, training and supervision issues, and the availability of written procedures. Results found teachers performed health care procedures more…

This article describes medical problems that occur more frequently in young children with Down syndrome. These include common cardiac, hearing, and vision problems and less common thyroid and celiac diseases. Guidelines for preventing dental and obesity problems are followed by suggestions to early interventionists for watching for leukemia, neck…

State Medicaid expenditures for Intermediate Care Facilities for the Mentally Retarded (ICF-MR) increased sharply between 1980 and 1984. The ICF-MR bed capacity declined relative to the total state population, while numbers of ICF-MR Medicaid recipients increased. Trends among states are examined, emphasizing changes in demographic factors,…

Of 10,000 New Jersey physicians surveyed in 1988 (2,048 responses) and 1989 (1,069 responses), 26 percent had patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in 1988 and 50 percent in 1989. Continuing medical education had significant positive impact on physicians' involvement with identification and management of HIV-positive patients.…

Discusses the problem of conceptual integration when preparing and teaching courses that combine two established subspecialty areas within a discipline. Provides an example of such a course that integrates medical sociology and the sociology of aging. Describes the major readings and course outline. (NL)

Examines AIDS in terms of its causes, prevalence, prognoses, and modes of transmission. Discusses the importance of educating the public about AIDS and techniques for preventing AIDS. (RJC)

Self-care programs and information sources should serve as a catalyst to facilitate appropriate care seeking behavior in college students and improve communication with health professionals. Health professionals in self-care provide proper encouragement, skills, and resources to enable individuals to involve themselves in appropriate self-care…

This conference paper discusses seven trends with implications for pharmacy: changing demographics (to a more elderly population), setting limits (health care costs), wellness and health promotion, organizational and structural changes in the health care industry, driving diseases (mental health, heart disease, AIDS), driving discoveries, and…

Except for life expectancy, older women are relatively disadvantaged in terms of living arrangements, income, health, and medical care. Although often lumped together in research, older women and men have vastly different personal and social resources and problems. (SK)

The University of California at San Diego medical center has restricted the number of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome patients it treats, to avoid (1) limiting educational and treatment opportunities for medical students and (2) assuming a disproportionate amount of treatment costs. The policy is intended to provoke discussion of these issues.…

It is argued that while the American Dental Association promotes quality of care, there is little evidence of significant implementation of quality assurance by the organized dental community and long-standing resistance to the quality assurance movement among individual dentists. Some potential remedies are discussed. (MSE)

A variety of issues in the debate over assurance of quality of dental care are discussed, including the methods and implementation of quality assessment and the mechanisms of quality assurance among individual dentists. (MSE)

Reviews the role of athletic trainers in New York State secondary schools. Discusses the need for trainers to provide emergency medical care for sports injuries and to develop prevention programs. Reviews efforts to obtain certification for trainers from the New York State Education Department. (FMW)