This issue has 2 inaugural features. With the passage of health reform legislation in the United States, there will be significantly increased pressure on emergency departments. I welcome submissions on any aspect of redesign of emergency departments. This issue highlights organizational redesign (the article summarizing Institute for Healthcare Improvement initiative) and critical architectural concerns (Zilm et al).

The next 3 articles highlight our interest and commitment to better understanding of health care in vulnerable populations. We are particularly pleased with this commitment in light of the 40th anniversary of the National Community Health Center Act. We welcome an article from the United Kingdom, which analyzes the impact of a pay for performance program socioeconomic disparities in diabetics.

A significant challenge to health care cost containment is the diffusion of technology. This issue continues our ongoing commitment to this with an article on a technology that previously was extremely complicated in terms of scheduling and now, possibly, can be done in the physician's office. In addition, I am pleased, as part of our ongoing relationship with Jeffrey Lerner, CEO of ECRI, the premier technology assessment company in the United States, to announce a regular feature of new trends in technology assessment that begins with this issue.

Our other regular features from the Republic of Texas (Mark Holt, MD) and managerial challenges in ambulatory care (Ronald B. Goodspeed, MD) continue.

-Norbert I. Goldfield, MD

Editor