Delmar's Drug Reference for Health Care Professionals is an ideal reference for healthcare providers in outpatient settings. It includes pertinent information about drug actions, dosages, side effects, methods of administration, monitoring during drug therapy, day-to-day care, and client teaching. An understanding of this information is necessary to ensure safe practice in settings such as physicians' offices, clinics, emergency rooms and HMOs. This reference is written in a straightforward manner appropriate for a broad range of health personnel at varying educational levels. It is small enough to fit in the pocket of a lab coat. This versatile reference also can be used as a practical teaching guide for instructors of basic pharmacology in ancillary health programs. (key words: generic drugs, over-the-counter drugs, drug administration, drug storage, drug classifications, drug interactions, dosage, pregnancy category, controlled substances, side effects, drug therapy, client teaching, overdose, dosage form, IV drugs, oral drugs, topical drugs, ophthalmic drugs, drug action)