News in brief - Aug. 7, 2000

Magazine lists top hospitals

Baltimore's Johns Hopkins Hospital again ranked tops in U.S. News & World Report's annual list of best hospitals. Others in the top five: Mayo Clinic, Massachusetts General Hospital, Cleveland Clinic and UCLA Medical Center. The magazine's report also ranked hospitals in 17 specialties, from cancer to rehabilitation. Rankings were based on hospitals' reputation among randomly surveyed specialists, mortality rates, and data on their technology, volume and nursing care. Some critics say the rankings are nothing more than a popularity contest.

A Web-based newsletter for allied health professionals is available from the American Medical Association.

Since the "Health Professions Career and Education E-letter" began being sent out in April, 5,000 readers have been receiving the latest information on educational trends and career-related issues for more than 50 professions.

The professions covered in the E-letter include diagnostic and rehabilitative services, therapeutic treatments, health or information services management, and counseling for psychosocial and cognitive needs.

In the July issue, headlines included: "PAs Take Stand on Ethics, Executions, Medical Errors," "AMA Adopts Substitute Resolution on Nonphysicians' Scope of Practice" and "The Informationist: Health Profession of the Future?"

The E-letter is produced by the AMA, which also publishes the annual Health Professionals Career and Education Directory.