Health Professions Career and Education Directory awarded 5-star ranking

The AMA's  Health Professions Career and Education Directory received a perfect 5-star ranking (received by only 8 percent of books reviewed) in an April 2006 review by Doody's Book Review Service. 

The reviewer called the Directory an "outstanding resource,” a "must have” for all libraries, and a "highly recommended resource for healthcare professionals.” The complete review is below:

Reviewer: Steven J. Hamick, BIS, RRT, AE-C (William Beaumont Hospitals)

Description: This is the 34th edition of the AMA's Health Professions Career and Education Directory, which is published every year. It continues to provide indispensable information regarding 6,666 programs in 67 healthcare occupations.

Purpose: The Directory offers occupational and job descriptions, employment characteristics, and information on the various educational programs such as length, curriculum, and educational standards for the majority of the 67 listed professions. The authors have met their objectives with their latest revision.

Audience: Although not specifically stated, this resource would be valuable in any library, for any individual looking to embark on a health care career, and for health care professionals already in the field. Given the exhaustive detail and familiarity with all the various professions and programs, it is very apparent that the authors are experts in their field of expertise.

Features: The Directory is divided up into sections. Section I details occupations and educational programs and describes historical development of each health care field, its occupational description, job description, employment characteristics and outlook, as well as licensure, certification and registration information. Section II covers institutions sponsoring accredited programs, listed by state and city and complete with address and contact information. Section III covers accrediting agencies, while Section IV offers data tables and sources for additional information on the health professions.

The text is nicely done!

Assessment: This is an outstanding resource. It is a "must have" for all libraries and a highly recommended resource for health care professionals.

Bibliographic data: ISBN: 1-57947-713-5, 653 pages, soft cover.