The first Frank M. Norfleet Forum for the Advancement of Health was convened December 1-3, 1980 at The University of Tennessee Center for the Health Sciences, Memphis. It is an annual invitational forum created to focus on the improve ment of health status in the community, state, nation and world through effective health policies and organizations. As issues of health care become more complex, the Norfleet Forum is expected to serve as a vehicle for discussion and dissemina tion of information needed by policymakers and administrators in selecting intricate solutions to health care problems. It is administered by a five member board of trustees, including two members from the Memphis-Plough Community Foundation's board of governors and three representatives of The University of Ten nessee Center for the Health Sciences. This Forum is made possible by the generous gift of Dunbar Abston, Sr., and is named in honor of his adopted stepson, Frank M. Norfleet. Mr. Abston enjoys a business career associated with Parts Industries Corporation of Memphis, one of the largest auto motive arts supply and equipment distributors in the nation."

The second annual Frank M. Norfleet Forum for the Advancement of Health was convened November 30, December 1 and 2, 1981 at The University of Tennessee Center for the Health Sciences, Memphis, Tennessee. The Norfleet Forum is a continuing series of discussions on issues related to national health policy and organization of health care at all levels. Application of the competitive model for containing costs and assuring high quality of medical care (1980 Forum) is jeopardized in part by rapid introduction of expensive medi cal technology. Decision-makers in business and industry, government and health care provider groups recognize the benefits of high technology and are reluctant to impose controls that might reduce the effective level of scientific creativity. And yet, some technologies are rushed into routine use before their efficacy and safety are assured, and without measuring the benefits to be achieved against the harsh reality of cost. In this volume, 11 of the worldls experts on technology issues summarize current ideas for understanding and coping with the technological imperative of the 1980s. James R. Gay, M.D."