The implementation of a continuity of a care clinic in a highly subspecialized Veterans Administration internal medicine training program for postgraduate medical students is described, with focus on resolving problems created by the idiosyncratic administrative features and resource limitations of the hospital. (Author/JMD)

A comparison of rates of acceptance and performance of undergraduate science and nonscience majors applying to 13 classes (1978-90) of the University of Alabama, Birmingham, medical school found no significant difference in acceptance rates, and no difference on most standard measures of medical school academic performance. Results suggest…

A survey of 580 senior medical students in 10 schools investigated perceptions of mistreatment during undergraduate medical education; a follow-up survey of 571 subjects examined perceptions of mistreatment during the first year of residency. Similar results from the two surveys is seen as providing compelling evidence that the perceived level of…

A study of the workload of nine medical interns and seven residents in a neonatal intensive care nursery investigated the number of X-rays, arterial blood gas analyses (ABGs), and electrolyte determinations ordered for 321 infants over 5 months. Results show that as the workload increased, interns ordered ABGs more often than residents, especially…

Under a new plan, the federal government will pay $400 million to 42 teaching hospitals in New York over six years. In return the hospitals will cut by 20-25% the number of residents they train by 2002. The intent is to reduce drain on the Medicare Trust Fund providing graduate medical education subsidies. Other reforms are included in the plan.…

A study in the Queen's University (Canada) medical school's family residency program found that in 70,805 patient encounters with residents, 65.1% were with women patients. While mean number of patients seen by male and female residents did not differ, proportions of women patients seen (58.6% for male residents, 68.4% for females) did vary. Male…

In response to New York State legislation limiting house staff working hours, a survey of obstetrics and gynecology resident programs (n=26) was conducted. Results were used to construct a prototype call schedule and a hypothetical monthly schedule indicating how a single resident would function without violating any state regulations. (MSE)

A study of 36 first-year Northwestern University (Illinois) medical residents found that students' medical knowledge was a predictor of increased laboratory test use, that clinical judgment was a predictor of decreased laboratory use, and that level of caring was statistically unrelated to amount of laboratory use. (Author/MSE)

A study assessed the effectiveness of a weekly outpatient clinic for staging and triage of newly identified human-immunodeficiency-virus (HIV)-infected patients on 21 medical residents' attitudes and knowledge regarding HIV patient care, as compared with 20 control students. Results indicated that the experience positively affected student…

A survey of 63 general medical residents found most accepted the psychosocial role of the primary care physician, found it most appropriate in ambulatory care settings, felt ambivalent about their ability to perform it, and assigned it secondary priority in patient care. More attention by training programs to ambulatory care and psychosocial…

A survey of 149 entering first-year medical residents concerning experiences with and knowledge of infection control investigated occurrence and patterns of accidental needle-sticking and reporting, student immunization for Hepatitis B, and instruction in universal precautions. It is concluded that students are at risk for needle-sticking, but…

The University of North Carolina's postdoctoral advanced education in general dentistry program relies heavily on clinic productivity and effective management to meet the challenges of a diminishing state budget appropriation and lack of financial flexibility in the state university system. External funding is also sought actively but has not yet…

Two views within the federal government regarding funding medical education--"just send money" and "prudent purchaser"--and their implications for rural America are discussed in the context of budget shifts toward pediatric training and National Institute of Health programs, different agency mandates, the high cost of health care and medical…

Survey of 571 second-year residents investigated personal observations of unethical/unprofessional conduct during their first postgraduate year. Behaviors observed included falsification of patient records by others (reported by 44.5%), patient mistreatment (73.5%), others taking credit for their work (46.7%), colleagues working in an impaired…

Objective: The author examines one aspect of the psychopharmacology curriculum: the psychology of psychopharmacology. Method: Drawing from his experience teaching this subject to trainees at many different levels and from an emerging evidence base suggesting that psychosocial factors in the doctor-patient relationship may be crucial for medication…