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	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Donohoe's review of generalist and specialty care states that "HIV-infected individuals cared for by generalists had . . . significantly shortened survival than those cared for by an AIDS specialist."¹ He cites the 1996 study by Kithara et al² as support for this statement. However, the cited study was not a comparison of specialty and generalist care; rather, it was a comparison of the care provided by generalists with varying degrees of experience in treating patients with AIDS. In fact, the threshold for the "most experienced group" was low; any physician with more than 5 patients with AIDS in his or her practice was placed in this group.

Unless Donohoe considers any physician with more than 5 patients with AIDS to be an "AIDS specialist," it is clear that the study he cites does not establish the conclusion that he reaches in his article.

Darius A. Rastegar, MD
Baltimore, Md

1. Donohoe MT. Comparing generalist and specialty care: discrepancies, deficiencies, and excesses. Arch Intern Med. 1998;158:1596-1608. FREE FULL TEXT 2. Kithara MM, Koepsell TD, Deyo R, Maxwell C, Dodge W. Physician's experience with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome as a factor in patients' survival. N Engl J Med. 1996;334:701-706. FREE FULL TEXT

Arch Intern Med. 1999;159:196.

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Comparing Generalist and Specialty Care: Discrepancies, Deficiencies, and Excesses
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Arch Intern Med. 1998;158(15):1596-1608.
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