Annals of internal medicine
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Patient-controlled analgesia is a relatively new and investigational technique that permits patients to treat pain by directly activating doses of intravenous narcotics. The technique was developed in response to the undertreatment of pain in hospitalized patients. ⋯ The technique is also an ideal investigative instrument for studying equianalgesic states. Several foreign-made devices are now being used under investigational sanctions in this country, and it is anticipated that several American manufacturers will be seeking regulatory approval to market the devices.
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A national census of internal medicine residency and fellowship training programs was done in 1981 and 1982, a continuation of surveys conducted annually since 1976. The number of residents in training continues to rise in relation to the increasing number of U. S. medical school graduates. ⋯ More than half of the residents entered subspecialty fellowship training after the completion of residency training. This finding predicts a continuing increase in the ratio of subspecialty internists to general internists in the practicing internal medicine population. The implications of these results for public policy are discussed.