Raised speed limits, speed spillover, case-fatality rates, and road deaths in Israel: a 5-year follow-up.

Objectives: We assessed the 5-year, nationwide impact on road deaths of the raise in the speed limit (November 1, 1993) on 3 major interurban highways in Israel from 90 to 100 kph.

Methods: We compared before-after trends in deaths as well as case fatality-an outcome independent of exposure (defined as vehicle-kilometers traveled).

Results: After the raise, speeds rose by 4.

[Updating the basket of health services].

The process by which services are added to Israel's basic basket of health services constitutes a unique effort to tackle the most difficult of ethical issues. In some years, since 1997, the Israeli government allocated an increment of about 1% to the national health budget for the purpose of expanding the basic basket of health services provided under national health insurance. A public committee has been created for this purpose of deciding which of hundreds of potential entrants, should be added within the above budget constraint.

Effect of a computerized alert on the management of hypokalemia in hospitalized patients.

Background: Electrolyte abnormalities, including hypokalemia, are frequently encountered among hospitalized patients. Their management, when carefully audited, reveals major shortcomings.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a computerized alert on the management of severe hypokalemia in hospitalized patients.