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Preface
Internal Medicineis designed to provide the busy clinician
with precisely the information needed where and when it is
needed. The Associate Editors and contributors are interna-
tionally recognized authorities, and they have organized the
content specifically so as to convey the essentials necessary for
diagnosis, differential diagnosis, management, treatment and
follow-up. Many topics start with a “What To Do First” head-
ing which brings the collective experience and guidance of top
experts to bear on the “up front” considerations the clinician
must face. We are excited aboutInternal Medicineand hope
youshare our view that it is an essential resource, particularly
in our current era of shortened physician-patient encounters
and the need for rapid clinical decision-making.
Bruce F. Scharschmidtxxix