Problems of elderly persons in developing nations are rising. Identification and execution of research priorities and training in gerontology and geriatrics for medical, paramedical, and community personnel and older adults themselves would help achieve healthy aging. (SK)

The report of the Association of American Medical Colleges' Medical School Objectives Program presents the work of two expert panels. One, on medical informatics, identified five important physician roles: lifelong learner, clinician, educator, researcher, and manager. Another panel established a definition for "population health…

Proposes that pharmacy schools incorporate formal assessments of self-reported empathy in the admissions process to assess personal qualities necessary for patient counseling and other aspects of pharmaceutical care. Comparison of two approaches to measuring self-reported empathy (forced-choice format, direct self-ratings) found the first more…

Discusses interdisciplinary/transdisciplinary education and practice for the health professions, looking at such issues as professional boundaries, clinical practice boundaries, processes for education in primary care, collaborating partnerships, and program accreditation. (JOW)

Staff members of the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission worked jointly to establish a task force to investigate and develop recommendations for addressing the workforce shortages in nursing and allied health in Tennessee. The investigation established that Tennessee already has a workforce shortage of…

This testimony focuses on the reauthorization of the health professions education programs authorized under titles VII and VIII of the Public Health Service Act. It argues that the effectiveness of these programs--which are designed to increase the number of health professionals, improve their distribution in locations that have a shortage of…

The influence of professional accreditation on community college nursing and allied health curricula is discussed in these five papers. First, Robert Evans presents the community college viewpoint, distinguishing between general/institutional and programmatic accreditation, outlining the growth of programmatic accreditation, and citing as concerns…

The author states that a central debate in the issue of continuing education for health science professionals is voluntary versus mandatory participation. She questions the assumption that participation in continuing education equals continuing competence and proposes a throrough examination of the rationale, opportunities, and obstacles related…

The public recognition that health care can be preventive as well as treatment oriented provides new opportunities for allied health professionals to expand their traditional patient education roles. This article describes health education, the competencies it requires, and the conditions that facilitate successful learning outcomes. (Author/CT)

Describes technique involved in designing a clinical simulation problem for the allied health field of respiratory therapy; discusses the structure, content, and scoring categories of the simulation; and provides a sample program which illustrates a programming technique in BASIC, including a program listing and a sample flowchart. (MBR)

Describes how career education is implemented, how its goals are achieved, and the possible effects this can have on vocational education programs, specifically those in health occupations education. Discusses credentialing, placement, and articulation. (JOW)

Medical educators must make every effort to achieve an adequate level of nutrition education for all health professionals. Medical schools should adopt a basic, required curriculum including biochemical and physiological aspects of nutrients, a clinical nutrition program for prevention of health hazards, and a course in nutritional assessment.…

Although there is some geriatric content in optometry curriculum, such as pathology and diseases associated with aging, the emphasis would be better placed on aging as a normal process. Further education about the elderly population as a whole and further legislation for comprehensive care are needed. (MSE)

Social work education is lacking in preparation of students for work in the health care field. Thirteen content areas necessary for this work are outlined, and both macro- and micro-levels of specialization are encouraged. Whether education should focus on current practice or be developed for future practice designs is discussed. (MSE)

Within academic health centers there exists a well-established "pecking order" influencing daily life and reflecting fundamental relationships between medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, and allied health. Relationships between individual professionals and between schools within a center are examined for clues to possible change. (MSE)