Evolution

By Karen Henry

As we close out this issue of The O&P EDGE , we're well into the planning season for our next year of editorial content. Planning for the future inevitably leads to an examination of the past—what has worked, what has not worked, and what can be improved upon.

During the past year, I've been privileged to work with professionals who believe passionately not only in the product they distribute each month but also about the people for whom the publication is intended. Each feature, each department, and each design is crafted with the primary intention of presenting you with the most current and relevant clinical, business, and regulatory information with a decidedly human touch.

As the O&P profession evolves, The O&P EDGE strives to keep pace. Nowhere is that better illustrated than with our editorial departments. For example, "Face to Face," which debuted as an occasional, lighthearted Q&A profile in 2002, has evolved to its current "Five Questions for&" format and has proven to be a wonderful vehicle by which to give O&P professionals a voice.

In partnership with the Amputee Coalition of America (ACA), The O&P EDGE has brought you "Progress on Parity," a monthly update on the fight for prosthetic parity as it continues to make headway in states across the country and builds momentum for a national campaign.

To keep you abreast of regulatory and compliance issues, we began "Legal EDGE" in October 2005, which was shortly thereafter dubbed "Policy & Practice." Through this department, we are honored to bring you insights from one of the profession's leading healthcare attorneys. In July 2003, we debuted "Got FAQs?" so that we could directly address your Medicare coding and billing questions with expert advice.

We also bring you the latest advancements through our "Innovations" department, in-depth profiles through our "Industry Leader" and "Today's Consumer" departments, and information about the growing pedorthic profession through our "Stepping Out" department. Our "Education Outlook" and "Residency Report" departments provide an insider's look into today's O&P education and residency programs. And, of course, our Industry Review and Calendar sections bring you the most up-to-date news and event information available.

A number of our departments, such as "Face to Face," "Progress on Parity," and "Policy & Practice," have been "firsts" for any O&P publication. I hope all of our departments and features have been and continue to be informative and useful. While I have a few ideas about what has worked, what has not, and what can be improved upon, when it comes right down to it, my opinion means very little without your comments and suggestions.

My challenge for the upcoming year is to continue the evolution of this publication to better serve you. Please continue to share your thoughts with me through e-mail, letters to the editor, or by submitting to our "Perspective" department. And, as always, thank you for reading.

Karen Henry
Editor, The O&P EDGE

Table Of Contents - October 2007

	Medicare Coding & Billing: Not Just a Job…an Adventure! Feature
	Controlling A/R with Finance Options Feature
	6 Steps to a Successful Phone Screen Feature
	From Disability to Hyper-Ability? Feature
	Dennis Gordon: Triple Amputee Isn’t Spinning His Wheels Today's Consumer
	‘Smart Brace’ Brightens Scoliosis Treatment Outlook Innovations
	ISPO World Congress Draws Delegates from 68 Countries Industry Review
	Paddy Rossbach, RN: Consumer Power Industry Leader
	A Guide to Disorientation Residency Report
	Sports News Sports
	Five Questions for David Moe, CP(c) Face to Face
	Everybody Needs to Be EDGY about This Perspective
	Portrait of an Activist: William Samuels Progress on Parity
	Got FAQs? Got FAQs?
	Evolution Viewpoint