Suggestions for organizing the objective structured clinical examination for medical students and physicians address selection of competencies to be evaluated, number, type, and duration of examination stations, use of examiners, clarity of instructions, test administration, resource requirements, interstation signals, and recordkeeping. (MSE)

Data on the relative levels of men's and women's dental health are scarce, but the available data do indicate differences in tooth loss and health-related behavior patterns. Better methods for recording and reporting this information are recommended. (MSE)

Issues that colleges and universities must address in implementing the Financial Accounting Standards Board's Statements of Financial Accounting Standards 116 (concerning contributions received and made) and 117 (for nonprofit organizations) are outlined. The overall objective is to present a financial statement in a format that tells the…

The American Dental Association has a role to play in the increasing computerization of dental practices, including involvement in electronic media claims for insurance processing, information dissemination, and development of guidelines for electronic patient records. (DB)

College advancement services can take the burden of many financial and analytical functions off the shoulders of development officers. Centralizing development-related financial functions can streamline clerical tasks and improve efficiency, consistency, continuity, accessibility of expertise, and capacity. Proficiency in a wide range of financial…

Problems encountered by some students, particularly in job searches, when date of birth is indicated on academic records are discussed, and record-keeping and identification strategies to alleviate them are outlined, including not printing birthdates on transcripts, using a different identifying number, or using another method for matching…

The University of New Mexico hospital supported development and implementation of a brief course for medical students in medical dictation. Dictations of hospital discharge summaries prepared by the participants were compared with those done by prior graduates of the institution. Results found better completeness, clarity, and brevity in…

Analysis of crime reports from 483 four-year colleges and universities reveals that institutions use vastly different classifications in reporting campus crimes, even though they are reporting under the same federal law. Some institutions are following the lead of Ohio University in standardizing classifications. (MSE)

This case study describes use of a program of self-mediated recording and intervention, including distraction techniques, with monitoring within the family, with an 8-year-old child with leukemia and a generalized anxiety about health. Anxiety was reduced to the normal range and maintained at that level at a nine-month followup assessment.…

Describes an eight-step process for developing or refining a family-medicine informatics curriculum: needs assessment, review of expert recommendations, enlisting faculty and local institutional support, espousal of a human-centered approach, integrating informatics into the larger curriculum, easy access to computers, practical training, and…

On a federal tax form, only 75 of 475 colleges and universities surveyed reported that they had spent money on lobbying, defined as direct contacts with legislators or executive-branch officials about specific bills. Guidelines concerning reporting are unclear and confusing, and some institutions reveal as little as possible. Data on 78…

Examines questions raised when implementing computerized versions of the "Looking After Children" materials in child-welfare services. Discussion concerns the difficulty of establishing common goals between information technology specialists and social work managers, the need to develop computer systems which are seen to benefit all parties…

Notes that record keeping and management are critical aspects of home day care centers. Highlights options for tools, including calendars, loose-leaf notebooks, ledgers, computer spreadsheet software, and file boxes. Provides guidelines for organizing information as well as particular information necessary regarding provider, parent, and child.…

An ongoing project to measure faculty work at the University of Southern California exemplifies the collaborative approach to producing an assessment instrument that documents both an individual's productivity in research, teaching, and service and determines the worth of his activities in relation to institutional goals. The resulting Faculty…

This article focuses on teachers' views of assessment, specifically the common barriers and benefits of assessing students in physical education. Physical educators were asked about the benefits and barriers of using assessment in physical education. These teachers expressed the following barriers: grading students on skill levels and abilities,…