The practice manager. A review and discussion of the literature.

The limited amount of literature available which describes the work of practice managers has been used as the basis for compiling a tentative job description and for the discussion of a number of actual or theoretical issues which seem to be relevant. A comparison is made at a superficial level with experience in the U.S.A.The intention is to clarify some ideas in a newly emerging aspect of community medicine and primary care with a view to exploring the possibilities for research, training and consultancy in the future.