On Rounds

A heartfelt masterpiece about the joys of travel, reading, and companionship. In rural Canada, dotted along the coast of a vast mauve river, live villagers of different stripes: a recently divorced hydroplane pilot, a factory-worker who closely resembles her fisherman husband, a probing motorcyclist with a pet St. Bernard, a pair of beautiful blonde joggers, and other curious characters. For all their differences, each is brought together by a soft-spoken man, referred to only as “the Driver,” who travels up and down the coast each season, delivering books to areas not served by libraries and listening closely to the villager’s tales and to their woes. This summer tour is bound to be different than all the rest. The Driver has made friends with a traveling band of musicians, jugglers, artists, and acrobats who decide to come along for a ride that the Driver has privately decided will be his last. Jacques Poulin’s compassionate prose delves into the hidden pains of aging and loss without losing sight of the tremendous joy that can be found in making the world a little more livable for other people.

Clinical judgment is a critical aspect – perhaps the most critical aspect – of efficient, accurate, and cost-effective patient care. Focusing on essential clinical skills, On Rounds: 1000 Internal Medicine Pearls helps clinicians in training and in practice to identify the critical findings that will simplify complex clinical problems and lead to an accurate diagnosis. One thousand easy-to-remember clinical aphorisms, or “pearls,” help you distinguish the important findings from the incidental, pointing out the distinctive features amidst the mass of data that is accumulated in the evaluation of a sick patient, and leading to the development of mature clinical judgment. Go “on rounds” with one of the most respected educators in internal medicine and learn from his nearly 50 years of clinical experience. Focus on the areas that are often a source of confusion for students, trainees, and even seasoned practitioners. Learn each pearl in a relevant clinical context, with tables, clinical images, and physiology information, where appropriate. Recognize “black pearls:” statements that, although widely believed, are demonstrably false. Improve your clinical judgment skills whether you’re a resident or an experienced clinician. Carry these pocket-sized pearls with you for quick reference.

James Dodson always felt closest to his father while they were on the links. So it seemed only appropriate when his father learned he had two months to live that they would set off on the golf journey of their dreams to play the most famous courses in the world. Final Rounds takes us to the historic courses of Royal Lytham and Royal Birkdale, to the windswept undulations of Carnoustie, where Hogan played peerlessly in '53, and the legendary St. Andrews, whose hallowed course reveals something of the eternal secret of the game's mysterious allure over pros and hackers alike. Throughout their poignant journey, the Dodsons humorously reminisce and reaffirm their love for each other, as the younger Dodson finds out what it means to have his father also be his best friend. Final Rounds is a book never to be forgotten, a book about fathers and sons, long-held secrets, and the lessons a middle-aged man can still learn from his dad about life, love, and family. Final Rounds is a tribute to a very special game and the fathers and sons who make it so.

Mr. Postmouse and his family are going on vacation! Of course, he’ll need to bring along a few parcels. After all, “a postmouse’s rounds are never done!” Traveling by hot-air balloon, cruise ship and even by camel, the intrepid mouse family treks around the world, from the forest to the sea, the desert to the ice field, finding adventure, new discoveries and animal friends at every stop. And all along the way, Mr. Postmouse never misses a delivery! Kids will want to pack their bags and tag along. They’ve never seen a vacation quite like this one!

Have you ever wanted to study the Bible with a fresh understanding? If you were given the opportunity, would you want to spend time with Jesus as He goes about healing all those with needs while simultaneously teaching His disciples? If you were one of His disciples, what would you experience as you watched and listened to Jesus? Making Rounds with Jesus: A Physician Looks at the Ministry and Mission of Jesus will awaken in you a sense of being present as you read familiar Bible accounts and imagine yourself being an eyewitness. Watch and listen to Jesus as if you are present. See how He establishes rapport with almost every person He meets. Wonder at how He always knows the need and the correct diagnosis for each person He meets. See how He handles skeptics who don't recognize His identity as the promised Messiah. You will learn lessons from Jesus in new ways. You will find yourself progressing from being a reader to a witness to a learner to a participant. When Jesus describes the Great Commission to you, He promises that the Holy Spirit will empower you to embark on a new journey. Just as Jesus transformed the minds and actions of His disciples, so He will do the same for you as He prepares you to go forth as a trained ambassador for the kingdom of God on earth. This transformation process is a delightful new way to experience the Bible as you grow in your relationship with Jesus.

Dr. David Hunter is Medical Staff President at Green Valley Memorial Hospital. Facing him is the challenge of keeping his community hospital open as an independent entity in the face of managed care pressures and the encroachment of University Medical Center (UMC), seeking to expand its growing empire. As Chief of Pathology, Dr. Janis Saunders is more frequently called upon to deal with dead men than live ones. Serving on the Medical Executive Committee, she emerges as an unexpected ally in Dr. Hunter's quest to block the hospital's CEO from arranging a merger with UMC. The two doctors, both confirmed singles, develop a comfortable relationship as they try to untangle a deadly web of hospital politics and ruthless ambition. Investigating the sudden deaths of two Trustees, Dr. Hunter also discovers more personal secrets. Not until he can explain the two unusual deaths does David uncover the most important secret of all: love.

A remarkable cat. A special gift. A life-changing journey. They thought he was just a cat. When Oscar arrived at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Rhode Island he was a cute little guy with attitude. He loved to stretch out in a puddle of sunlight and chase his tail until he was dizzy. Occasionally he consented to a scratch behind the ears, but only when it suited him. In other words, he was a typical cat. Or so it seemed. It wasn't long before Oscar had created something of a stir. Apparently, this ordinary cat possesses an extraordinary gift: he knows instinctively when the end of life is near. Oscar is a welcome distraction for the residents of Steere House, many of whom are living with Alzheimer's. But he never spends much time with them -- until they are in their last hours. Then, as if this were his job, Oscar strides purposely into a patient's room, curls up on the bed, and begins his vigil. Oscar provides comfort and companionship when people need him most. And his presence lets caregivers and loved ones know that it's time to say good-bye. Oscar's gift is a tender mercy. He teaches by example: embracing moments of life that so many of us shy away from. Making Rounds with Oscar is the story of an unusual cat, the patients he serves, their caregivers, and of one doctor who learned how to listen. Heartfelt, inspiring, and full of humor and pathos, this book allows readers to take a walk into a world rarely seen from the outside, a world we often misunderstand.