Literature concerning the validity and reliability of both written and computer-based simulations in assessing clinical competence in the health professions is reviewed, and suggestions are given for the improvement of the psychometric qualities of simulation-based tests. (MSE)

Presents a picture of the current situation in the United States with regard to training psychiatric residents in marital therapy. The author argues for more intensive training in the field of psychotherapy. The foundation for psychiatric residency training should be the psychotherapeutic experiences that mature and grow the budding clinician.…

Reviews of medical education programs suggest that physicians are not adequately trained in mental retardation. A study of 64 U.S. medical schools is discussed that indicates that almost half presented only minimal coverage on the topic of mental retardation and offered inadequate clinical experience. (Author/MLW)

Critical access hospitals (CAHs) are a federal Medicare category for isolated rural facilities with 15 or fewer acute care beds that receive cost-based reimbursement from Medicare. Purpose: This study examines the role of foreign-born international medical graduates (IMGs) in the staffing of CAHs. Methods: Chief executive officers (CEOs) of CAH…

Objective: The authors describe the approval processes for subspecialties and the mechanisms for certification and recertification and review the status of training programs and numbers of diplomates with subspecialty certification. Methods: Published information and relevant data bases were reviewed. To date, 5,327 child and adolescent…

Pharmaceutical education and pharmaceutical practice began to diverge in the early twentieth century for socioeconomic reasons and have since grown along separate paths. The movement toward clinical pharmacy, emerging about 1970, may reunite the two but it first faces new challenges. (MSE)

Two theories of clinical problem solving are contrasted; studies of medical problem solving are described; evidence is presented to highlight the central role of experience in development of problem-solving competence; and implications for teaching and assessment of problem solving, especially in medical education, are suggested. (MBR)

Prescriptive, decision-analysis of medical problem-solving has been based on decision theory that involves calculation and manipulation of complex probability and utility values to arrive at optimal decisions that will maximize patient benefits. The studies offer a methodology for improving clinical judgment. (Author/MLW)

A literature review found that (1) many students and nurses held negative views of the elderly, affecting career choices; (2) gerontological content in baccalaureate nursing programs ranged from little or none to adequate; and (3) a severe shortage of faculty prepared to teach gerontological nursing and negative attitudes toward this…

Reviews the development of the profession, and identifies important issues in the process and structure of graduate clinical education. These factors are related to an analysis of the graduate curricula, the clinical practicum, and the selection and evaluation of students for masters programs in marriage and family therapy. (Author)

The University of Washington School of Dentistry developed a 36-month formal teacher education program in combination with joint specialty training in pedodontics and orthodontics. The rationale and structure of the original program is outlined and the reasons for its termination are discussed. (Author/MLW)

An analysis of legal trends affecting institutions that train allied health professionals, including risks faced and actions necessary to minimize liabilities, is presented. Discusses those factors which determine liabilities, trends emerging as legal doctrines from courts, and actions for preventing, minimizing, counteracting, or neutralizing the…

This article summarizes findings of studies on speech-language pathologists with varying levels of clinical experience, presents a working model of clinical expertise, offers comments concerning the development and maintenance of clinical expertise, and identifies some problems with research in this area. An appendix lists knowledge, skills,…

A review of the literature on medical school curriculum and primary care specialty choice suggests that three types of curricular experiences may increase interest in primary care: third-year required family medicine clerkships, especially longer clerkships; continuity experiences in primary care settings; and primary care tracks. (Author/MSE)

Literature on clinical experiences in educational administration programs is reviewed along with materials collected from University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA) member institutions. Focus is on materials that support the value of structured clinical experiences. A framework for clinical experiences is developed, which is based on…