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Presents the work force data based on the results from three sets of examinations administered by the American Board of Pediatrics providing information regarding trainees and practitioners in pediatrics. General Pediatrics In-training Examination;; Career choices of first-time tales of the General Pediatrics Certifying Examination; Pediatric Subspecialty Certifying Examination.

Abstract. Several years ago the American Board of Pediatrics developed a list of 101 technical procedures, which was sent to directors of accredited pediatric programs (N = 231). There was a 70% response and 72 of 101 procedures were considered necessary for residents to develop competency by at least 80% of the program directors. The list of 72 procedures was then sent to 500 randomly selected general pediatricians from a pool size of 10 304. The response rate was 35%. Forty-nine of the 72 procedures were considered necessary by 80% of those responding and one third of the skills (24 of 72) could be classified as absolutely necessary because more than 95% of practitioners considered them to be. Only 7 procedural skills were considered unnecessary by more than 50% of practitioners. It is suggested that program directors consider the 24 skills as ones that should be taught and competence in performing them be verified and recorded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT. For many years there has been a committee at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh to review research proposals to assure that the rights of children are protected. In 1974, its composition was changed and its mission broadened to include consultation and discussion of ethical issues in clinical care. The committee is called the Human Rights Committee to reflect this mission. Medical ethical consultations are performed by rotating on-call teams consisting of a physician and a nonphysician who are members of the committee. Selected cases from 48 consultations are presented to demonstrate the process and to illustrate some of the questions that were addressed. The clinical diagnoses were varied, but the commonest were congenital malformations. The most frequent reason for consultation was to question the advisability of assisted ventilation (27 cases), but other reasons concerned definitive surgery, intravenous hyperalimentation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and tracheostomy. Consultations are always optional and advisory. The recommendations of the consultation team are subsequently reviewed by the entire Human Rights Committee. The service has been well received by the medical staff. This method has some of the advantages of both the hospital ethics committee and the single consultant. Therefore, it should be considered when planning how to deal with these important problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcal colonization was studied in a newborn nursery for 6 1/2 years. Culture of the nares of each infant at the time of discharge was found to be a simple, effective monitor. The average rate of 4.1% demonstrates that a low rate can be maintained for an extended period of time. Hexachlorophene bathing of infants and handwashing by personnel between the handling of infants appear to be the critical elements of staphylococcal control. Neither the modification of infant bathing to the extent of deferring the initial bath until the attainment of thermal homeostasis, nor of handwashing to the extent of eliminating brushes resulted in increased colonization. It was also possible to eliminate certain traditional elements of nursery routine--the wearing of caps, masks, hair nets, and gowning except when handling an infant outside an incubator--and to allow medical students and parents free access to nurseries, all without an increase in colonization. Elaborate nursery precautions are not only expensive but may also discourage physicians from giving optimal care to ill infants; judicious changes in nursery technique may be made, as long as there is careful surveillance of bacterial colonization and infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comments on the study entitled `Central Nervous System Pathology Associated With Mask Ventilation in the Very Low Birthweight Infant: A New Etiology for Intracerebellar Hemorrhages,' by K. E. Pape, D. L. Armstrong and P. M. Fitzhardinge published in the 1976 issue of `Pediatrics.' Occurrence of significant cerebellar hemorrhage in relation to degree of prematurity and length of survival; Disagreement on the statement that the causal factor is a tight-fitting face mask; Importance of the duration of survival and degree of prematurity.

Presents information on idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome in infants. Effects of CPAP; Details of applying continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP); Advantages and disadvantages of CPAP.

Presents a study which determined if icing whole blood would affect plasma potassium concentration. Methodology used to measure potassium concentration; Effect on potassium concentration of icing infant and polycythemic adult blood; Determination of plasma hemoglobin concentration.