It is suggested that evidence-based health care is appropriate in dental care delivery, and dental educators can play an important role in overcoming barriers to teaching and practice of this approach. Obstacles include misinterpretations, insufficient evidence, undeveloped critical appraisal skills, skepticism, inadequate time, and poor access to…

Health care costs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (New York) were projected to double between 1986 and 1990. The university has met cost-reduction goals through varied approaches, planned future cuts in overall costs by studying its employee population and is working toward a flexible plan for diverse health care needs. (MSE)

Offers suggestions for parents whose children attend school with someone having AIDS or HIV. Suggestions include learn the facts; talk to children about AIDS; determine whether the school offers AIDS education; examine school district policies for handling infected staff and students; and note school procedures for handling minor emergencies. (SM)

Describes the demographic trends and health risk factors of the growing elderly population, especially poor minorities. Suggests rethinking traditional hospital and nursing home roles in health care delivery to the elderly, expanding research concerns, reworking access to Medicaid, and ensuring health care to minorities. (CJS)

Advances in medical technology have enabled more children who are medically fragile and technologically dependent to survive. Local school districts must determine whether a particular service is a "related service" covered by the Education for the Handicapped Act (EHA) or a "medical service" excluded under EHA. Reviews court…

Describes the accomplishments and distinguishing features of California's Healthy Start Program, a statewide, school-linked initiative to provide health and human services support to children and their families at the local level. (MDM)

Describes programs of Comprehensive Interdisciplinary Development Services, a private nonprofit agency that provides preventive health care services to families in Chemung County, New York. The Infant Registry program registers, tracks, and screens the health and development of children from birth until the child starts school. (LP)

Outlines 13 priority research topics and 51 important research questions concerning medical education in ambulatory care settings, as defined by a distinguished group of medical educators, clinicians, and policymakers. Issues of theory binding, research priorities, and research design are discussed, and policy recommendations made for the…

Explores the operation of the Indian health care system, considering five major areas: the prevailing climate and Indian health indicators; federal government responsibility for care; Indian Health Service structures, capacity, and delivery; Indian Health Service resource allocation process; and health care access, eligibility, and rationing.…

Analysis of data regarding future residential plans of 141 mothers of adult children with mental retardation found that greater care giving burden was associated with more extensive planning for residence within the formal service system and less planning for residence with a family member. More frequent service use predicted greater planning for…

Describes the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) efforts to develop a comprehensive five-year plan that will change the way all HHS agencies deal with tribal colleges. Summarizes the conference held in Phoenix in January 1998 that brought tribal college presidents and departmental officials together to find common ground for developing…

To meet the health-care needs of a growing Hispanic population in Dallas, a nursing school used two strategies: short-term cultural immersion (language and cultural experiences in Mexico) and a nurse exchange program with a Mexican hospital. The importance of cultural-competence training for health-care personnel was affirmed. (SK)

Presents a reaction to Cooper and Gottlieb's (this issue) article titled, "Ethical Issues with Managed Care: Challenges Facing Counseling Psychology." Examines the ethical problems giving rise to managed care, the ethical character of therapy goals, and the social ethical question of balancing the good of individuals with the good of society.…

East Tennessee State University has reshaped its education of medical, nursing, and allied health students to create a rural primary-care track curriculum that meets the needs of two medically underserved rural counties. The community-based experiential program shows students the realities of community public health and provides much-needed…

Comprehensive school health programs (CSHPs) provide services and programs addressing eight categories: health education, health services, school environment, food service, physical education, counseling, schoolwide health promotion, and family, school, and community partnerships. Parents and PTAs are crucial in supporting CSHPs. Two sidebars…