Filling the GAPS in adolescent health

Article Abstract:

The American Medical Assn has formulated Guidelines for Adolescent Preventive Services (GAPS) in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control. GAPS calls for annual preventive doctor's visits for young people between 11 and 21, confidential health guidance to help adolescents cope with physical and emotional changes, screening for health problems such as depression and unsafe sex and immunizations for diseases such as hepatitis B. GAPS would cost about $100 per year per patient, in contrast to about $25 billion spent on preventable adolescent problems.

Editorial, Standards, Adolescent medicine

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It's time for the AMA to break its silence, accept gays

Article Abstract:

The American Medical Society should name homosexuals in its anti-discrimination policies to help the thousands of gay and lesbian physicians who face such discrimination. For example, a Texas hospital withdrew a job offer from a physician when it discovered that he was gay. A gay medical student was told to hide this fact when applying for pediatrics residencies. If the AMA includes homosexuals in its anti-discrimination policy, it will break its silence and in doing so aid the medical establishment in becoming more diverse and accepting.

Social aspects, Gays, Column, Physicians, Medical professions

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Be honest - and patient - with your teen patients

Article Abstract:

Physicians should listen carefully and avoid judging their adolescent patients in order to elicit information about their health and gain their trust. When it is necessary to broach a sensitive subject such as sexual behavior, doctors should ask general questions about the subject before asking intimate questions. In addition, doctors should be alert for subtext in dealing with their adolescent patients; adolescents may not be comfortable directly stating their concerns.

Physicians & Surgeons, Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists), Methods, Physician and patient, Physician-patient relations

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