The Washington Manual of Medical Therapeutics (Washington Manual of Medical Therapeutics, 30th Ed)

Rating:
Summary: A five star handbook, but...
Review: ...not a textbook and probably not very helpful at all for the layman (here the Merck Manual would be much more informative). This annually updated, now essentially inpatient-only manual of Internal Medicine therapeutics is nearly indispensable for the harried House Officer. By the springtime of your Internship, your Washington Manual will be duly frayed, pages bent in places describing the management of DKA, Gram Negative Sepsis, and DTs, thoroughly stained with coffee, blood, crystal violet, safranin, &c., and most thankfully, much less necessary than it was in July! Now, a word of caution: never, ever, ever quote the Washington Manual on rounds; doing so will make you the target of all manner of condescending questions from your seniors and attendings throughout your rotation. Carry your Manual on call, leave it out of sight otherwise, and read your Harrison's or equivalent daily. Oh, and when you're really exhausted and disgusted, remember "this too shall pass".

Rating:
Summary: best for the nuts and bolts
Review: 5 stars for what it's supposed to be used for:

Have used both Ferri's and the Washington Manual and would have to say Washington is by far tops (also Ferri's has unfortunately gotten so fat and its binder is terrible to boot!!). In terms of what to exactly treat your patients with and how to give it, as an intern this can be very nerve-racking. The Washington Manual helps lessen some of this anxiety with good recommendations and timely pearls. The Washington Manual is also nice for the quick jogging of memory as a more senior resident or for an attending treating easy or mildly-complex out-of-specialty problems. Nothing as of yet really beats this time-tested cook book like ole' Washington to get your bearings.

Once again, it's a cook book albeit a very good one. But obviously, as a chef is much more than the recipes he knows, it's assumed that the diligent clinician's "unwritten job" is to appraise the literature, read solid textbooks, go to conferences, use time-tested clinical experience.

The MGH blue / black pocket Medicine guide is also really good! Uses lots of new studies as evidence, excellent tables and algorithms, but doesn't cover as much. MGH and Washington complement each other quite well in many respects.



Rating:
Summary: The only pocket manual of internal medicine to own.
Review: Althought the Washington Manual has faced some competition from other handbooks of internal medicine over the past years (see author Ferri), no manual has provided an alternative that comes close to matching the combination of breadth and succinctness found in this text. My advice to students and housestaff is this: Do not be tempted to buy an alternative manual merely because it fits more comfortably into the pocket of your lab coat. During late on-call nights on the medical wards, when the decision is up to you, you will either be glad you chose Washington or sorry you didn't. Thorough, succint, up to date, and time tested, The Washington Manual is the only choice.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent source for the subspecialist outside his field
Review: As a cardiologist who sees internal medicine patients on call, the Wash U manual is a great help. It provides succinct summaries that greatly assist decision-making in the small hours of the morning, or when accessing a more comprehensive reference is not available. It is ideal for the subspecialist dealing with patients outside his area of limited expertise.

Rating:
Summary: best of the best
Review: Before reading the "Washington Manual' I knew very little about medicine but now I feel more confortable I like the chapter on Ischemic Heart disease written by stacy C smith and Anne C Golberg they are very good "thank you".

Rating:
Summary: Over rated in it's usefullness, but it is adequate.
Review: Depending on your level of training, this may not be the manual for you. Having completed Internal Medicine training and becoming board certified, I have to say this is not "THE" book of need. It is adequate in its intended purpose for residency training. There are many others that will also be adequate...do your research, look them up.

Rating:
Summary: Over rated in it's usefullness, but it is adequate.
Review: Depending on your level of training, this may not be the manual for you. Having completed Internal Medicine training and becoming board certified, I have to say this is not "THE" book of need. It is adequate in its intended purpose for residency training. There are many others that will also be adequate...do your research, look them up.

Rating:
Summary: Washington Manual is tops
Review: excellent quick resource for baseline admission and diagnostic criteria on patients

Rating:
Summary: washington manual of medical therapeutics
Review: Great book. Has some pathophysio but is very concise and straight to the point. Best used in the wards. Has specific therapeutic plans which can be followed. The 30th edition is a lot better than the 29th. A lot of new therpeutics out there and it has been reflected in this manual. Very good buy. It might be cheaper to buy in at a local bookstore so compare prices first. Shouldn't be used as a text for course work. Big texts such as Harrison's is still the best

Rating:
Summary: washington manual of medical therapeutics
Review: Great book. Has some pathophysio but is very concise and straight to the point. Best used in the wards. Has specific therapeutic plans which can be followed. The 30th edition is a lot better than the 29th. A lot of new therpeutics out there and it has been reflected in this manual. Very good buy. It might be cheaper to buy in at a local bookstore so compare prices first. Shouldn't be used as a text for course work. Big texts such as Harrison's is still the best