1 Medical Care: introduction to a journal Catarina Kiefe PhD MD Dept of Quantitative Health Sciences University of Massachusetts Medical School June 25, 2007
Medical Care background: 2 • The official journal of the Medical Care Section of the American Public Health Association • Currently publishing vol. 55, i.e., started 1965 • Medical Care focuses on : • All policy-relevant aspects of healthcare delivery • Methods for health services research • Quality and value in healthcare • Healthcare equity
Medical Care publications: 3 • Everything peer-reviewed (except invited editorials) • Monthly hard copy issues, 12/year, everything also on-line • Almost all original articles • Supplements • On-line only articles: Applied Methods of HSR • Special series – consult with co-Editors-in-Chief before submitting • Point-counterpoint • Annals of Health Services Research • Applied Statistical Methods
When an original article is submitted: 4 • Managing Editor does technical check (~ 3 days) • Co-Editors-in-Chief triage , reject ~60%, almost all within 5 days • If considered for peer review: • assigned to 1 of 13 Deputy Editors who likely invites peer reviewers • 13 days from submission to 1 st reviewer invitation • Average time to 1 st decision: ~ 60 days (for papers sent out) • Average author turn-around for 1 st revision: 60.3 days • Current overall acceptance rate ~13%
Main reasons for rejection: 5 • For desk rejections: the SO WHAT question • For peer-reviewed articles: • Problems with data • Inappropriate analyses • Poorly written • Discussion does not provide needed context
Want to know more? 6 • Medical care website: • http://journals.lww.com/lww-medicalcare • We have a blog: • http://journals.lww.com/lww-medicalcare/blog/
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