The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association
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J Am Osteopath Assoc · Dec 1994
Comparative StudyPerformances of candidates with osteopathic compared with allopathic subspecialty training on the American Osteopathic Board of Internal Medicine subspecialty certifying examinations 1984 to 1992.
The American Osteopathic Board of Internal Medicine has been examining various factors that may affect candidate performance on subspecialty certifying examinations. To see whether taking subspecialty training in an osteopathic compared with an allopathic institution could predict better performance on the certifying examinations, the authors analyzed examination performance for all candidates from 1984 through 1992. ⋯ When the results from all nine examinations were pooled, the mean first-time examination takers' score for candidates in allopathic subspecialty programs (n = 201) was 78.3 and for those in osteopathic subspecialty programs (n = 153), 77.4 (P > 0.2). On the basis of these results, we cannot conclude that osteopathic subspecialty training is a factor that predicts better performance on the subspecialty certifying examination.
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J Am Osteopath Assoc · Dec 1994
Medical liability, product liability, and the question of tort reform.
Physicians have identified malpractice reform as their first priority during the recent flurry of national reform initiatives. Their focus on malpractice, however, tends to obscure the relationship between malpractice and the systemic problems wracking our healthcare delivery system. ⋯ The authors define the areas of physician liability under tort law (both malpractice and product liability), point out the misperceptions that inform physician behavior, and review the individual reforms proposed. They identify the stakeholders and their positions on each proposal, while imploring a cooperative, systemwide approach to tort reform.