GAPS (AMA GUIDELINES FOR ADOLESCENT PREVENTIVE SERVICES) - WHERE ARE THE GAPS

The AMA Guidelines for Adolescent Preventive Services (GAPS): Recommen dations and Rationale(1) is a major breakthrough in the evolution of p reventive health services in general and of adolescent preventive serv ices in particular. GAPS is a comprehensive guide for adolescent healt h professionals that contains several pioneering elements. These eleme nts include (1) providing a framework for the organization and content of ''well-adolescent care,'' (2) offering guidance for parents and fa milies as an essential part of adolescent health care, and (3) dealing with a wide range of adolescent health problems, with an appropriate focus on the behavioral, emotional, and developmental aspects.