THE MANUAL, WHICH WAS DEVELOPED BY THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, COVERS ALL ASPECTS OF THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER'S RESPONSIBILITY IN IDENTIFYING ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN, ASSURING THEY RECEIVE ADEQUATE MEDICAL CARE, REPORTING ABUSE/NEGLECT CASES IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW, COLLECTING DATA TO DOCUMENT ABUSE/NEGLECT DIAGNOSES, AND MAINTAINING A THERAPEUTIC ATTITUDE TOWARD ABUSING PARENTS. THE ROLES OF PHYSICIANS, NURSES, AND ADMINISTRATORS IN MANAGING ABUSE/NEGLECT CASES IN A VARIETY OF HEALTH CARE SETTINGS (NEIGHBORHOOD CLINICS, PHYSICIANS' OFFICES, LARGE AND SMALL HOSPITALS) ARE ADDRESSED, TOGETHER WITH THE PERSONNEL, LABORATORY, AND POLICY/PROCEDURE REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCCESSFUL CHILD ABUSE DETECTION AND EVALUATION IN EACH TYPE OF SETTING. PARTICULAR ATTENTION IS DIRECTED TO THE IMPORTANCE OF DESIGNATING A FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE TO COORDINATE ALL ASPECTS OF ABUSE/NEGLECT CASE MANAGEMENT IN A HOSPITAL OR CLINIC. THE MANUAL INCLUDES SECTIONS ON THE FOLLOWING: (1) RESPONSIBILITIES OF NONMEDICAL ABUSE/NEGLECT PERSONNEL (E.G., SOCIAL WORKERS) IN HEALTH CARE FACILITIES; (2) MODEL LEGAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES; (3) EMERGENCY ROOM PROTOCOLS FOR NURSES AND PHYSICIANS; (4) PHYSICIANS' GUIDELINES FOR MANAGING HOSPITALIZED CASES OF PHYSICAL ABUSE, CASES INVOLVING INCEST, AND CASES OF NUTRITIONAL DEPRIVATION; (5) GUIDELINES FOR IDENTIFICATION OF HIGH-RISK FAMILIES BY MATERNITY WARD AND NEWBORN NURSERY STAFF; AND (6) PROTOCOLS FOR CHILD PROTECTION TEAMS IN HOSPITALS HANDLING LARGE VOLUMES OF ABUSE CASES. A SUMMARY OF PHYSICAL AND BEHAVIORAL INDICATORS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT IS APPENDED. (LKM)