Health care trends, Part 2. The new health care team. Panel discussion.

In Part 2 of this third annual panel discussion, six experts talk about the growing diversity of health care providers and what it means for consumers and physicians. Americans are getting their wellness and health care services from a wider variety of non-physician practitioners than ever before. The number of allied health and alternative providers with direct patient access is likely to continue growing. This trend is being driven by consumer demand, by the lobbying efforts of non-physician providers, and by federal, state, and private payers who see the potential for reduced health care spending, greater consumer satisfaction, and better outcomes. In practice, this means physicians and non-physician providers, some of whom may not be sanctioned by the medical establishment, are obligated to collaborate as a team. Members of this new provider team will have to communicate effectively (with each other, with consumers, and with payers) and make evidence-based clinical decisions. Physicians may have to share decision-making with other members of this new health care team.

Optical properties of AlF(3)-based glasses doped with Pr(3+), Yb(3+) and Lu(3+).

Rare-earth ions can easily be incorporated into fluoride glasses in moderate to large concentrations. Because these glasses possess low fundamental frequencies, they appear to have many advantages over oxide glasses as hosts for rare-earth ions used in optical amplifiers and lasers. We have investigated the optical properties (fluorescence, absorption, and excited-state lifetimes) of AlF(3)-based glass doped with Pr(3+), Yb(3+) and Lu(3+). The effects of different dopant levels on the optical properties of this glass system have also been investigated. These results are compared to those obtained for the same ions in other glass hosts.

Assessing potential predisposition of elementary school children to heart disease.

Physical well-being has been designated a top priority for the children in the Clovis (California) Unified School District. In an effort to diminish coronary risk factors and encourage a healthy life style, a health assessment battery was developed for students in grades 1 through 6. The battery included measurements in height, weight, blood pressure, sit and reach flexibility, and skin-fold test for body fat composition. More than 5000 students were administered the tests by a health assessment team consisting of two nurses, three physical education resource teachers, and two clerical staff members. A random sample of 100 males and 100 females at each grade level was utilized for the statistical analysis. The correlation between body fat and weight was .80 (p v .05) in the fifth and sixth grades. Body fat was positively correlated with both systolic and diastolic measures of blood pressure. The coefficient averaged .21 (p v .05) over the 6 grades for systolic and .22 (p .05) over the 6 grades for diastolic blood pressure. Future plans call for the development of a longitudinal profile of students, as well as establishing district norms for the test battery.