From the Editor: An April Valentine

   As a layperson who, despite 27 years of motherhood, has an aversion to dealing with body fluids, I am in awe of the reports of achievement in care and healing that cross my desk each month. I respect the dedication and diligence required to prevail under trying circumstances (wounds, chronic illness, ostomies, and fiscal/legal ramifications, just to mention a few), let alone the time and energy necessary to sit down afterward and write about the research or experience.

   Dotting the i's and crossing the t's becomes less of a duty and more of a privilege with each manuscript we publish. This specific issue was particularly rewarding to create because the articles capture so much of the story of wound care. You will read about the wounds of a premature infant as well as those of the elderly with foot ulcers. You will learn more about efforts to determine the efficacy of an alternative treatment and about the unique application of a well-established diagnostic device. Also included is information on care protocols that have the potential to reduce cost by preventing pressure ulcers; new HCPCS codes that will affect reimbursement; and two treatments that used together may be better than one. You rise to the challenge of assimilating this information, humbly dismissing any acknowledgment of your can-do attitude.

   The April issue of Ostomy/Wound Management traditionally previews poster and oral presentations that will be featured at the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care. As in years past, selected abstracts are included to whet your interest in conference presentations (perhaps future articles as well) and more. In April, we make an extra effort to put our best foot forward - in synchronizing publication with the SAWC, we know the wound care world is watching (and reading).

   Although it is but one microcosm, the skin, wound, and ostomy care arena reflects the potential (and the problems) of providing good care in an ever-demanding healthcare universe. Adapting to technology, coding efficiently, and conducting and/or reviewing research to develop care protocols are not unique to your floor or clinic or practice. Clinicians everywhere, in every discipline, are struggling with the same concerns. What makes wound care unique is that it touches every aspect of healthcare - from primary caregiving to vascular surgery, from pediatrics to gerontology. There are always wounds to prevent and heal. How well you manage foretells how well healthcare in general is responding to the needs and demands of those it serves. We know how crucial it is for you to read your studies and tell your stories and how conscientious we must be to get them right.

   Enjoy this issue, enjoy the conference, and accept my gratitude for the small part I play (grammatically and syntactically) in your awe-inspiring profession.