Letter from the Editor.Last June we introduced a number of new features to the Southern Medical Journal. Our main goals were to make the Journal more user friendly and to provide clinicians with tools they need to better help their patients. We wanted to make the SMJ SMJ Southern Medical Journal SMJ Strategic Management Journal SMJ Saber Marionette J (WinAMP skin) SMJ subject matter jurisdiction SMJ Summary Judgment (legal term) SMJ Saudi Medical Journal a useful companion that many clinicians would keep readily available for further reference. One of the features we felt might be of help was the "Featured CME CME See: Chicago Mercantile Exchange CME See Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME). Topic" section, which was devoted to a particular disease, group of diseases, or symptoms identified by clinicians as an area in which CME is needed. Over the past few months we covered a number of issues, including osteoporosis, dementia, diabetes, hypertension, the female patient, pain management, incontinence, smoking, smoking cessation smoking cessation Public health Temporary or permanent halting of habitual cigarette smoking; withdrawal therapies–eg, hypnosis, psychotherapy, group counseling, exposing smokers to Pts with terminal lung CA and nicotine chewing gum are often ineffective. , and thyroid disease thyroid disease Thyroid disorder Endocrinology Any benign or malignant condition that affects the structure or function of the thyroid gland. See Anaplastic carcinoma of thyroid, Chronic thyroiditis–Hashimoto's disease, Hyperthyroidism, Hypoparathyroidism, . Many of these topics were already the subject of CME courses organized by the SMA (1) See SMA connector. (2) (Shared Memory Architecture) See shared video memory. (3) (Software Maintenance Association) A membership organization that began in 1985 and ended in 1996. . The Featured CME Topic sections were extremely well received. Readers liked to have in one issue most of the relevant information. One problem arose, however: the Featured CME Topic sections take a great deal of space--about one-third of the Journal. Although this section is helpful to many clinicians, it reduces by about a third the number of articles we can publish. Considering that we can publish only about a dozen articles a month and considering that we receive several articles on a daily basis, the publication of this section creates an enormous backlog of articles that is ever-increasing and significantly delays the publication of many excellent articles. We gave this matter considerable thought and decided that it would be unfair to our potential contributors and readers to continue with the Featured CME Topic section in its present format. We feel obligated ob·li·gate tr.v. ob·li·gat·ed, ob·li·gat·ing, ob·li·gates 1. To bind, compel, or constrain by a social, legal, or moral tie. See Synonyms at force. 2. To cause to be grateful or indebted; oblige. to publish original material as quickly as possible because this material may affect the clinicians' and researchers' work. We therefore decided to reduce, at least temporarily, the frequency of the Featured CME Topic section to three issues a year. We will still continue to publish CME articles every month that provide one or two CME credits. If the demand for the Featured CME Topic section continues to be strong and the resources are available, we may elect to publish it more frequently or as a supplement to the Journal. I want to emphasize that the Journal is evolving and is responsive to the needs of our readers and potential authors. I look forward to receiving your comments and any ideas you may have to improve the quality and relevance of the Journal. Ronald C. Hamdy, MD, FRCP FRCP Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. FRCP abbr. Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians , FACP FACP Fellow of the American College of Physicians. FACP abbr. 1. Fellow of the American College of Physicians 2. Fellow of the American College of Prosthodontists Editor |
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