Besdine RW, Rubenstein LZ, Snyder L; eds. 175 pages. Philadelphia: American Coll Physicians; 1996. $42.00. ISBN 0943126487. Order phone 800-523-1546.

Field of medicine: Geriatrics and long-term care.

Audience: Medical students and practitioners new to the long-term care setting.

Purpose: To serve as a resource text on medical care of the nursing home resident.

Content: This is a compilation of 10 previously published articles plus two additional chapters, and it is divided into four parts. The first part addresses general issues with regard to the roles and responsibilities of physicians in a nursing home setting. The second selects three clinical conditions common among nursing home residents and discusses evaluation and management. The third part is devoted to drug use in a long-term care setting with special attention to pain. The final part addresses selected geriatric syndromes, rehabilitation, and ethical issues.

Highlights: For physicians new to the nursing home setting, this book provides a useful introduction and overview and some practical recommendations about assessment and management strategies for a limited number of common problems.

Limitations: The book seems to be best suited for practitioners with no experience in a long-term care setting. The lack of detail is appropriate for introductory material, but I was disappointed by the lack of practical advice for the busy and experienced clinician.

Context: The book could complement a standard textbook of geriatric medicine, but many of these texts address similar aspects of nursing home care. The topics are covered in a traditional manner, and discussion of many clinically relevant exceptions and practical approaches is missing.

Reviewer: Peter Pompei, MD, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.

Commentary: This is an excellent introductory overview of selected issues in medical care in a nursing home setting. It could be useful for physicians-in-training as a supplement to a comprehensive textbook and a practical manual.