Transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound, first introduced more than a decade ago, has steadily evolved into a dynamic, reliable, reproducible, and practical diagnostic tool. Clinical neuroscientists have found TCD to be an indispensable technique in the management of many types of patients. This book is designed to provide basic instruction in the perfor mance and interpretation of transcranial Doppler ultrasonography for technologists, nurses, and physicians. The information included in the text is critical for the development of a strong knowledge base. It is not intended to be all inclusive, and the TCD novice is likely to use it as the platform upon which to build his/her experience in the application of TCD. This book is organized as a step-guided approach for the performance of TCD, and it includes specific guidelines for interpretation of the TCD save forms. We hope that the reader finds it useful during what we think is the most difficult phase of this technique-the learning curve. John P. McCartney, R.V.T. Kathleen M. Thomas-Lukes, R.N., M.N."

This book exposes how regulatory and cultural changes taking place in our Country over the last forty years have fundamentally changed the delivery of medical care into the more politically appealing yet artificial concept of a healthcare system. This metamorphosis has resulted in lower standards, suboptimal quality and, effectively, a widespread downgrading of what once was an exceptional medical system. The book is written from the perspective of a practicing specialist, whose career has encompassed working for two major universities, the U.S. Army Medical Corp and, more recently, private medical practice. The author, born and raised in Latin America, has had the opportunity to personally experience all of these changes and the resulting healthcare downgrade, and is able to provide an insider's view of the current state of affairs, together with the only potential solution to a process that continues to threaten the quality of american medicine for generations to come.