Book excerpt: Physician assistants have speedy access to essential facts in important medical specialty areas. Provides tips for assessing patients from different cultural backgrounds, pediatric and geriatric alerts, patient counseling, and when it's imperative to consult with a colleague or refer to another practitioner. Contents include assessment findings, ECGs, laboratory tests, common X-rays, dermatologic disorders, disease management, emergency care, primary care procedures, infection control, drug hazards, financial and legal issues, health promotion, normal and crisis laboratory test values, selected references, and an index.