Medical records of older outpatients treated at 15 university teaching hospitals were reviewed to evaluate how their medical problems were managed in university-based internal medicine practices. The finding suggests either that these patients were extremely atypical or that their geriatric problems were unrecognized. (Author/MLW)

The contribution of private physicians to medical student education in ambulatory care was determined by a questionnaire directed to departments of family practice, internal medicine, and pediatrics in U.S. medical schools. Departments of family practice were most likely to offer ambulatory care courses. (Author/MLW)

Some of the programs in general internal medicine are now reaching the point at which surveys of graduates can help assess program strengths and weaknesses. A survey of graduates from the University of Colorado School of Medicine is described. (MLW)

A pilot study is described that was designed to make medical students' early professional contact with the elderly occur with those who are well enough to function as independently living individuals. The students felt the teaching value of the experience equaled or exceeded that of their experience with hospitalized patients. (MLW)

A successful approach to improving a residency training program in internal medicine had residents, attending physicians, and administrators use a consensus-building method to develop problem lists ranked by two criteria (high importance and high potential for solution), for which short- and long-term management interventions were created. (MSE)

A study in a medical center investigated the feasibility of primary care practices combining internal medicine and pediatrics residencies. Equally divided among children and adults, the patients had sought specialists and were highly satisfied. The physicians had appeal particularly to young upper-middle class patients. (Author/MSE)

All U.S. internal medicine residency programs were surveyed in 1981-82 to obtain quantitative information on specific program features, formal teaching conferences, supervision of residents, and evaluation of residents in ambulatory care. (Author/MLW)

The organization and curricula of internal medicine residencies programs that emphasize primary care are described and compared with traditional residencies in internal medicine. It is noted that primary care residents spend more time in ambulatory care and are allowed more electives in specialties outside of internal medicine. Out-of-hospital…

A survey of all 1987 graduates (n=112) of all U.S. combined programs found patient care as the major current involvement, with most subjects seeing patients in both pediatric and adult age groups and in primary care only. Perceived deficiencies and preferences in rotation types and quantity were also analyzed. (Author/MSE)

The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine's Division of General Internal Medicine is described, focusing on personnel and organization, educational programs, clinical and research activities, special programs, finances, and related issues and pressures. The program is proposed as a model for other institutions. (MSE)

A comparison of patient (n=181) and tutor (n=31) evaluations of medical student (n=41) behavior in an internal medicine clerkship revealed difficulties with patient evaluation of students. The process is time consuming and introduces tension between students and patients, and patients are poor discriminators. (Author/MSE)

A study compared the 1984-88 test performances of United States osteopathic medical school graduates and Canadian medical school graduates with those of U.S. and foreign medical school graduates during the same period. Findings, limitations, and implications for recruitment and training of internal medicine specialists are discussed. (Author/MSE)

An innovative internal medicine clerkship provides a one-month ambulatory care component followed by two months of traditional inpatient experience. Assessment of the changes in student ability to diagnose in a variety of brief cases found knowledge gains in the shorter ambulatory care segment were double those in the longer segment. (MSE)

A study of 187 internists, evaluated by peers they recommended, found the highest rating was for integrity, and lowest was for psychosocial aspects of patient care. Peer raters' response rate and analysis of the ratings suggest this rating process is acceptable to physicians and that it is feasible to obtain reliable, multidimensional peer…

After identifying four medical specialty services in a hospital where patient lengths of stay were excessive, two educational interventions to decrease the time were developed. In meetings with each physician data on lengths of stay were discussed, and then a continuing education meeting was held. Improved efficiency resulted. (Author/MLW)