The continuity of health care includes three elements: cognitive, management, and relationship. Exploration of each expands the understanding of continuity in medical practice. Continuity of care can be evaluated in both undergraduate and residency programs by the application of the criteria offered. (Author/MLW)

A summary of what is generally thought to be taught well in internal medicine and what is taught less effectively is presented. The roles of medical students are considered in that context. Teaching contributions, evaluation of teaching, problems on clerkships, and opportunities for change are discussed. (MLW)

Faculty members and residents at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Nebraska were surveyed to determine whether there was agreement on a core of procedural skills that all internal medicine residents should be able to perform. Nineteen procedures were indicated by 90 percent or more of the respondents. (Author/MLW)

An attempt to assess the validity of the personal interview in the selection of residents for the program in internal medicine at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, is reported. The data suggest that the residency interview may be of greater value to applicants than to selection committees. (Author/MLW)

Projected labor shortages in psychiatry have prompted studies identifying factors that influence medical students in career choice. Self-images as individuals were compared with professional images of psychiatrists using subjects from internal medicine as a control group. (Author/MLW)

A course in the early detection and outpatient management of alcoholism for medical residents is discussed. Unlike other courses on alcoholism that have emphasized changes in physicians' attitudes, this course was designed to promote changes in residents' practice behavior and to foster the development of necessary clinical skills. (MLW)

A survey of one university's internal medicine residency graduates from 1969-79 showed 30 percent had no change in plans regarding general versus subspecialty practice since medical school, and 41 percent made final decisions during residency. Inpatient care experiences, peer interactions, and faculty role models were most influential. (MSE)

Satisfaction of students in each of three years of residency are reported for these program elements: degree of responsibility for patient care, educational experience, support from superiors and peers, quality of work experience, leisure time, salary, job and support group availability for spouses, location, and patients' socioeconomic status.…

A potential generalizable approach for assessing, eliciting, and codifying criteria to select candidates for positions in the Hennepin County Medical Center primary care internal medicine residency program is described. The approach involves a faculty questionnaire designed to examine the importance of various types of criteria. (JMD)

At the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center of Penn State an internal medicine consulting resident sees all medical consultation requests not directed to a specific subspecialty division. A survey indicates that consulting residents are exposed to a quantitatively and qualitatively different spectrum of medical problems than on ward service.…

A survey of 121 internal medicine residents at Mount Sinai Hospital (New York) investigated students' career plans and decision timing, the effect on their residency of applying for a fellowship, and the timing of the fellowship process. Results indicate the current medical fellowship application system is generally experienced negatively. A…

A survey of 330 internal medicine residency directors found two-thirds of programs had ongoing academic affiliations. Support for the arrangements was stronger in university programs than in community or other hospitals, where such affiliations were considered less equitable and mutually trusting. Experience with consortia mitigated objections to…

The University of Hawaii developed an assessment and testing program for qualifying internal medicine residents in basic procedural skills: an observation period, a multiple-choice examination, and a slide-identification examination. The mean scores of both examinations were analyzed to assess whether curriculum changes were effective. (Author/MLW)

A survey of medical schools and residency programs in four specialties (family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, and psychiatry) sought information on the number and type of curriculum units on substance abuse offered by them. Considerable variation in offerings was found among the specialties. (MSE)

A three-year curriculum in medical ethics operates at Rhode Island Hospital and Brown University as part of the general internal medicine residency program. The six major topics covered are co-taught as seminars by one or more members of the multidisciplinary ethics faculty (philosopher, internist, and communications specialist) and experienced…