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As another year passes, it is time to pause and reflect. The OFP Editorial team thanks all of the dedicated people who have contributed to the success of our journal. Our transition has exceeded expectations in several areas, including the many authors who have submitted their work to OFP, the hard work of our Editorial Committee, and physician volunteers for their peer reviews. The peer review process is critical in guiding the content and quality of the manuscripts. Our partnership with Elsevier has also been central to our growth as a journal and we have benefitted from partnering with the world’s largest medical publisher. As we embark on our 2011 editorial cycle, we are committed to continued growth while meeting the unique needs of our readership. We will challenge our physicians to continue to provide articles applicable to daily care provided by osteopathic family physicians. We will encourage authors to include osteopathic correlations and concepts as part of the medical review and treatment algorithms. We will place specific calls for papers on osteopathic-related topics and prioritize these in our manuscript review process.
In this issue, we have a variety of interesting articles. David Park, DO, and colleagues provide a comprehensive review of the evaluation and treatment of a patient with chronic cough. They address differential diagnosis and the appropriate evidence-based work-up. Danielle Cooley, DO, and Joshua Coren, DO, provide an educational and legislative update on child car seats and car seat safety in the United States.
Pablo Calzada, DO, and colleagues provide an original article on gauging the cultural competence of a Family Medicine Academic Department. This timely article highlights the need that our trainers must be equipped to train future physicians to provide care for the new America in which ethnic and cultural background is becoming increasingly important in acute and chronic disease management. In an original research article, Joyce Bollins, DO, and colleagues evaluate patient interest in the use of e-mail to assist in chronic disease management. As we become more digitally connected, the rules and terms of such communication need to be determined.
This issue also presents two interesting case reports and provides a patient handout focusing on the timely topic of managing the common cold. Enjoy this issue, and thank you for your continued patronage. As a member service of the ACOFP, if there is anything else we can do to enhance how OFP content can benefit you, please feel free to contact me.
Choose to thrive!
Jay H. Shubrook, Jr., DO, FACOFP
Editor, Osteopathic Family Physician