Medical Direction in Long Term Care: A Clinical and Administrative Guide.

MEDICAL DIRECTION IN LONG TERM CARE: A Clinical and Administrative Guide. Edited by Steven A. Levenson, MD. National Health Publishing, Owings Mills, MD. 479 + xx pp. $45

This valuable book should be in the hands of anyone connected with long-term care-because, as with everything else, first you have to get organized and have the right skills and then you can provide better care. The book describes the LTC situation in the U.S.; how it got that way; what the trends are; and how wise and intelligent people (such as the authors obviously are) can identify and carry out the responsibilities. It also constitutes a master plan or checklist for the LTC health profession.

The seven authors have MDs and are active in geriatrics: four are connected with universities; two with government entities; and five with hospitals or medical centers. Steven A. Levenson, MD, lists himself modestly as editor, but he is the author of threefourths of the book.

All of their presentations include useful how-to tips along with generalized explanations of the underlying principles and practices. Their styles are direct and clear; the language is necessarily textbook, but there is no jargon. A nonprofessional can read the book and benefit from the stores of information and advice it contains.

In his foreword, ...