Medical Care
Online Submission and Review System
Instructions for Authors (this page)
Copyright Transfer (PDF)
Reprint Ordering
Permissions Requests
Reprints
SCOPE

Medical Care, the official publication of the Medical Care Section of the American Public Health Association, serves as an international medium for publication of worthy articles in the broad field of medical care and thereby encourages progress in the research, planning, organization, financing, provision, and evaluation of health services.

Original contributions are welcomed in the form of both full-length articles and brief reports that describe current developments in the field. Additionally, submission is encouraged of review articles summarizing prior research, manuscripts describing research methods relevant to health services research, and letters to the editor. Selection of manuscripts for publication is based on their timeliness, originality, soundness of methods, significance of findings, appropriateness of conclusions, and quality of presentation. Manuscripts are subject to editorial modification and revisions necessary to bring them into conformity with Medical Care style.

The editorial office will acknowledge receipt of each manuscript and will give the corresponding author a manuscript number for reference. Address all inquiries regarding manuscripts not yet accepted or published to the Journal's editorial office via e-mail to: karen.doyle@wolterskluwer.com

Patient anonymity and informed consent: It is the author's responsibility to ensure that a patient's anonymity is carefully protected and to verify that any experimental investigation with human subjects reported in the manuscript was performed with informed consent (where required) and followed all the guidelines for experimental investigation with human subjects required by the institution(s) with which all the authors are affiliated. Please document whether the study was approved by an Institutional Review Board. Authors should mask patients' eyes and remove patients' names from figures unless they obtain written consent from the patients and submit written consent with the manuscript.

Conflict of interest: As described by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) in their declaration of uniform manuscript requirements (Section II.D), Medical Care recognizes that important conflict of interest may arise from multiple sources, including personal and financial circumstances. According to the ICMJE, "Conflict of interest exists when an author (or the author's institution), reviewer, or editor has financial or personal relationships that inappropriately influence (bias) his or her actions (such relationships are also known as dual commitments, competing interests, or competing loyalties). "These relationships vary from those with negligible potential to those with great potential to influence judgment, and not all relationships represent true conflict of interest. The potential for conflict of interest can exist whether or not an individual believes that the relationship affects his or her scientific judgment. Financial relationships (such as employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, paid expert testimony) are the most easily identifiable conflicts of interest and the most likely to undermine the credibility of the journal, the authors, and of science itself. However, conflicts can occur for other reasons, such as personal relationships, academic competition, and intellectual passion."

Medical Care requires explicit declaration of any potential conflicts of interest that may exist or have existed for any author for the past three years dating from the month of submission, in accordance with the Center for Science in the Public Interest's "A Common Standard for Conflict of Interest Disclosure," available online at http://cspinet.org/new/pdf/20080711_a_common_standard_for_conflict_of_interest_disclosure__final_for_conference.pdf. As described below, this declaration must be made in the title page and will be published as a footnote on the first page of the manuscript. If no conflict of interest is present, the authors must explicitly state so. Each published manuscript will contain a conflict of interest statement as a footnote on the first page. Although each manuscript will contain an explicit statement addressing conflict of interest, the Editors will exercise appropriate judgment about what constitutes a reportable conflict.

Copyright: At the time the manuscript is revised and resubmitted, all authors must sign a copy of the Journal's Authorship Responsibility, Financial Disclosure, and Copyright Transfer form available for download at http://edmgr.ovid.com/mdc/accounts/ifauth.htm and submit it to the editorial office via the Journal's online submission system when the revised paper is submitted. Revised papers submitted without all the copyright transfer forms attached will be returned for completion.

Prior Publication: Medical Care supports the Common Statement on Prior Publication Policy (http://www.hsr.org/hsr/information/authors/ppublication.jsp).

Open access
LWW's hybrid open access option is offered to authors whose articles have been accepted for publication. With this choice, articles are made freely available online immediately upon publication. Authors may take advantage of the open access option at the point of acceptance to ensure that this choice has no influence on the peer review and acceptance process. These articles are subject to the journal's standard peer-review process and will be accepted or rejected based on their own merit. Authors of accepted peer-reviewed articles have the choice to pay a fee to allow perpetual unrestricted online access to their published article to readers globally, immediately upon publication. The article processing charge for Medical Care is $3,200. The article processing charge for authors funded by the Research Councils UK (RCUK) is $4,000. The publication fee is charged on acceptance of the article and should be paid within 30 days by credit card by the author, funding agency or institution. Payment must be received in full for the article to be published open access.

FAQ for open access
http://links.lww.com/LWW-ES/A48

Permissions: Authors must submit written permission from the copyright owner (usually the publisher) to use direct quotations, tables, or illustrations that have appeared in copyrighted form elsewhere, along with complete details about the source. Any permission fees that might be required by the copyright owner are the responsibility of the authors requesting use of the borrowed material, not the responsibility of Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

AUTHORSHIP REQUIREMENTS
Each person listed as an author is expected to fulfill the criteria for authorship established by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors in their 2007 statement on Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals (www.icmje.org).

More specifically, according to the ICMJE, authorship credit should be based on three requirements:

  1. Substantial contribution to conception and design, or acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data;
  2. Drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content;
  3. Final approval of the version to be published.

Authorship qualification requires that each of the above three criteria be satisfied. As described below, the cover letter must provide assurance that each author fulfills each of these requirements.

PREPARATION OF MANUSCRIPT
Manuscripts that do not adhere to the following instructions will be returned to the corresponding author for technical revision before undergoing peer review.

A submitted manuscript must be an original contribution not previously published (except as an abstract or preliminary report) and must not be under consideration for publication elsewhere. Authors are expected to disclose to the editors all published work in which the data have been cited, and to provide the full manuscripts if requested by the editors. If there is any question, authors should send one copy of any related manuscript. If a manuscript has been prepared for presentation at a meeting, this information should be noted in the acknowledgments. If the article is accepted, it must not be published elsewhere in similar form, in any language, without the consent of Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Each person listed as an author is expected to have participated in the study to a significant extent. Although the editors and referees make every effort to ensure the validity of published manuscripts, the final responsibility rests with the authors, not with the Journal, its editors, or the publisher.

ANNALS OF HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
The goal of the Annals section is to present papers that offer perspectives on how ideas, theories, empirical research, organizations, policies and people evolved and influenced the field of health services research. Appropriate topics for Annals papers include the evolution and impact of an idea, a theory or conceptual framework, a thorny problem in US health care, a landmark study, a body of empirical work to which many have contributed, a health policy, an organization, or the career of a single person.

Writers of Annals papers should present key factual material about the chosen topic, place the historical material in its proper societal and health-care context, describe and interpret the impact that the chosen topic has had to date, and frame debates around unsettled questions and point out gaps that future scholarship or policy should fill. All factual material should be checked and validated before submission.

To describe and interpret the impact of their subject matter or topic, writers are encouraged to use the “levels of impact” framework developed by the late Dan Stryer and colleagues. In this framework, there are four spheres of influence that can be affected by the subject matter or topic about which the author has chosen to write. These spheres of influence are hierarchical and are health services research (level 1), health policy (level 2), clinical practice (level 3), and health care outcomes (level 4). The writer should present evidence for the changes in research, policy, practice, and/or health outcomes caused or contributed to by his or her subject.

Authors of potential Annals papers can make use of an optional screening process. Authors may submit to the editors-in-chief a short prospectus (less than 300 words) describing their chosen topic and the reason it is of great importance to health services research. If the editors agree, the author will be encouraged to write and submit the full paper for consideration. Thereafter, manuscripts submitted for the Annals section will be handled like all other manuscripts submitted to the journal.

A manuscript submitted to the Annals section should be no longer than 3,500 words, have no more than a total of five tables and/or figures, and cite no more than 50 sources. When electronically submitting an Annals manuscript through Editorial Manager, the author should choose “Annals of HSR” as the type of paper being submitted. Under very exceptional circumstances, authors may seek permission from the editors to extend the maximum word count to 4,000. When such a request is granted, it should be noted in the cover letter to the editor accompanying the manuscript at time of submission.

PATIENT-CENTERED CARE
This section provides a forum for original contributions to the area of patient-centered care. Patient-centered care, as defined by the Institute of Medicine, “entails medical care processes that ensure decisions regarding the care received respect each patient's wants, needs and preferences, and for which the patient has the education and support he or she needs to make decisions and participate in his or her own care.” Original contributions are welcomed in the form of both full-length articles and brief reports that describe current developments in the field, including policies as well as practices. Additionally, submission is encouraged of review articles summarizing prior research, manuscripts describing theoretical concepts or research methods relevant to patient-centered care research, and commentaries.

Manuscripts submitted for the Patient-centered Care section should conform to journal requirements for manuscripts, and will be managed like all other manuscripts submitted to the journal. When electronically submitting a Patient-centered Care manuscript through Editorial Manager, the author should choose “Patient-centered Care” as the type of paper being submitted. Selection of manuscripts for publication is based on their relevance, timeliness, originality, soundness of methods, significance of findings, appropriateness of conclusions, and quality of presentation. Manuscripts are subject to editorial modification and revisions necessary to bring them into conformity with Medical Care style.

POINT-COUNTERPOINT

Compared with the traditional editorial process, the Point-Counterpoint approach conveys significant advantages for the presentation of controversial topics. For example, editorials typically place the original work in context, but may not present opposing viewpoints. Letters to the Editor generally focus on specific, and often idiosyncratic, concerns of the author; and rely on the chances of having read the original article. The Point-Counterpoint approach ensures a more global examination of the controversy and more carefully defines the relevant questions. Also, it allows the selection of a respondent with appropriate expertise.

We are herewith soliciting future submissions on topics that are controversial, of interest to readers of Medical Care, and amenable to scholarly and civil discourse. After submission of the original opinion manuscript, the Point, the editors will make arrangements for the Counterpoint piece, to which the original author(s) may also respond. The complete set of manuscripts will be subject to peer review. The suggested format corresponds to that of full-length manuscripts for both the Point and the Counterpoint, with the final reply having the format of a brief report. We look forward to lively contributions to the national discourse on our changing healthcare environment.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Medical Care will publish suitable Letters to the Editor as space permits. However, there is no guarantee of publication. Letters must not exceed 300 words, excluding references and tables. References are limited to 10 citations. Letters may be subject to editing or abridgment. The Editors will make the determination as to which letters are published. Authors of the article cited in the letter may be invited to reply, and this reply may also be published.

MANUSCRIPT SUBMISSION

All manuscripts must be submitted online through the Journal's electronic submission system via the website at http://www.editorialmanager.com/mdc/.

First-time users: Please click the Register button from the main menu and enter the requested information. Upon successful registration, you will be sent an e-mail indicating your user name and password. Print a copy of this information for future reference. Note: If you have received an e-mail from us with an assigned user ID and password, or if you are a repeat user, do not register again, just log in. Once you have an assigned ID and password, you do not have to re-register, even if your status changes (that is, author, reviewer, or editor).

Authors: Please click the log-in button from the menu at the top of the page and log in to the system as an Author. Submit your manuscript according to the author instructions. You will be able to track the progress of your manuscript through the system. If you experience any problems, please contact kdoyle12@verizon.net. Requests for help and other questions will be addressed in the order received.

General format: Submit electronically via the website at http://www.editorialmanager.com/mdc/. Please use a 12-point font, and double space all text, references, and figure legends. Tables may be single spaced. Headers, footers, and footnotes are not to be used except in tables, where footnotes may be used if needed.

Manuscripts have a maximum of 3,500 words, exclusive of abstract, acknowledgments, figures, tables, and references. Manuscripts are permitted to have a total of 5 figures and/or tables and no more than 50 references. In addition, a single brief appendix (no more than 1 printed page) may appear in the printed paper. (Supplemental online-only content is available as an alternative to a printed appendix. See the section on Supplemental Digital Content below for details.) Any submissions that exceed these limits will be returned to the authors without peer review. Under very exceptional circumstances, authors may seek permission from the editors to extend the maximum word count to 4,000. When such a request is granted, it should be noted in the cover letter to the editor accompanying the manuscript at time of submission.

Brief Reports are manuscripts that can provide their results clearly in a shorter format; they have a maximum of 2,000 words, again exclusive of abstract, acknowledgments, figures, tables, and references. Other than length, there are no differences in instructions, prestige, or editorial processing between regular length articles and Brief Reports.

The manuscript must be arranged in the following order: title page, complete author information page, blinded title page, abstract, introduction, methods, results, conclusions, references, appendix, figure legends, and tables. Pages should be numbered consecutively, beginning with the title page.

Medical Care also publishes occasional manuscripts as part of the Applied Methodology Series. This series is specifically geared toward publishing methods papers for health services and outcomes research. Papers in this series should generally be limited to 4,000 words, but this constraint may be relaxed when adequate space is required to describe the methods proposed. Structured abstracts may need to be adapted to the specific issues addressed. While manuscripts accepted for this series are published only online, they will be included in the Medical Care Table of Contents and will be indexed in MEDLINE.

Cover letter: Please include a cover letter containing the name and address of the corresponding author. In addition, we encourage the authors to suggest names and contact information of experts who may serve as potential peer reviewers for their manuscript.

The cover letter must contain explicit assurance that each of the listed authors meets each of the three authorship requirements as stated in the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals (www.icmje.org).

Unblinded Title page: Include on the unblinded title page: (a) complete manuscript title; (b) authors' full names, highest academic degrees, affiliations, and addresses; (c) name and address for correspondence, including fax number, telephone number, and e-mail address; (d) address for reprints if different from that of corresponding author; (e) disclosure of funding received for this work from any of the following organizations: National Institutes of Health (NIH); Wellcome Trust; Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI); and any other(s); (f) disclosure of potential conflicts of interest for all authors for the past three years, including an explicit statement that no potential conflicts exist when that is the case; and (g) word count (exclusive of abstract, acknowledgments, figures, tables, and references), number of text pages, number of references, and number of figures/tables. Please include a brief title (maximum of 40 characters including spaces) to be used as a running head.

Acknowledgments should be included in the unblinded title page (not in the blinded manuscript) and include technical support and the name, date, and location of meetings where the data were presented (if applicable).

Complete author information: For each author, please list his or her name and degrees, correspondence address, telephone and fax number, and e mail address.

Structured abstract and key words: The double-spaced abstract should be structured and limited to 250 words. Do not cite references in the abstract. Limit the use of abbreviations and acronyms. Use subheads such as Background, Objectives, Research Design, Subjects, Measures, Results, and Conclusions. Select 3 to 5 key words that depict the topic of the manuscript for inclusion at the end of the abstract. Suggested key words are also on the Journal's website under author and reviewer information. You will find a list of key words after you have logged into the system, click Submit a Manuscript at the top of the page, enter article title, article type and then click on Document Classification and no more than 10 Classifications.

Text: Organize the manuscript into 4 main headings: Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion. Define abbreviations at first mention in text and in each table and figure. If a brand name is cited, supply the manufacturer's name and address (city and state/country). Acknowledgment of all forms of support and all potential conflicts of interest for all authors should be placed in an acknowledgment paragraph within the cover letter. When the authors have no conflict of interest to disclose, the cover letter should contain an explicit declaration to this effect. The final paragraph of the discussion section is usually a general conclusion for the entire article.

Abbreviations: For a list of standard abbreviations, consult the Council of Biology Editors Style Guide (available from the Council of Science Editors, 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814) or other standard sources. Write out the full term for each abbreviation at its first use unless it is a standard unit of measure. Refrain from using nonstandard abbreviations or acronyms. Do not include lists or glossaries of abbreviations in the manuscript.

Measurement instruments: For articles describing development, validation, or testing of new measurement instruments (for example, health related quality of life, patient satisfaction, case mix adjustment), the instruments, including items and scoring instructions, must be available for research purposes to investigators requesting them.

References: The authors are responsible for the accuracy of the references. Key the references (double spaced) at the end of the manuscript. At least 6 references and no more than 50 are required or the article will not be accepted for review. Do not use endnotes or footnotes for references. Cite the references in text in the order of appearance. If there are more than 3 authors, name only the first 3 authors and then use et al. Refer to the List of Journals Indexed in Index Medicus for abbreviations of journal names, or access the list at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/tsd/serials/lji.html. Sample references are given below:

Journal article
1. Mathews WC, McCutchan JA, Asch S, et al. National estimates of HIV related symptom prevalence from the HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study. Med Care 2000;38:750-762.

Book chapter
2. Todd VR. Visual information analysis: frame of reference for visual perception. In: Kramer P, Hinojosa J, eds. Frames of Reference for Pediatric Occupational Therapy. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 1999:205- 256.

Entire book
3. Kassirer JP, Kopelman RI. Learning Clinical Reasoning. Baltimore: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 1991.

Software
4. Epi Info [computer program]. Version 6. Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 1994.

Online journals
5. Friedman SA. Preeclampsia: a review of the role of prostaglandins. Obstet Gynecol [serial online]. January 1988;71:22 -37. Available from: BRS Information Technologies, McLean, VA. Accessed December 15, 1990.

Database
6. CANCERNET PDQ [database online]. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute; 1996. Updated March 29, 1996.

World Wide Web
7. Gostin LO. Drug use and HIV/AIDS [JAMA HIV/AIDS web site]. June 1, 1996. Available at: http://www.ama_assn.org/special/hiv/ethics. Accessed June 26, 1997.

URL (uniform resource locator)
8. (J. M. Kramer, K. Kramer [jmkramer@umich.edu], e mail, March 6, 1996).

Tables: No more than a total of 5 tables and/or figures will be accepted. Cite tables consecutively in the text, and number them in that order. Upload each table as a separate Word file (not as a PDF or graphics file). Include the table title, appropriate column heads, and explanatory legends (including definitions of any abbreviations used). Do not embed tables within the body of the manuscript. Tables should be self-explanatory and should supplement, rather than duplicate, the material in the text. Name tables in the format: table 1.doc, etc.

Figures: No more than a total of 5 figures and/or tables will be accepted.

A) Creating Digital Artwork

  1. Learn about the publication requirements for Digital Artwork: http://links.lww.com/ES/A42
  2. Create, Scan and Save your artwork and compare your final figure to the Digital Artwork Guideline Checklist (below).
  3. Upload each figure to Editorial Manager in conjunction with your manuscript text and tables.

B) Digital Artwork Guideline Checklist
Here are the basics to have in place before submitting your digital artwork:

Remember:

Figure legends: Legends must be submitted for all figures. They should be brief and specific, and they should appear on a separate manuscript page after the references. The file name should not use personal names. For example: figure 1.tif

Supplemental Digital Content

Supplemental digital content (SDC) is content that appears online only. Authors may submit SDC that enhances their article's text to be considered for online posting. SDC must be submitted with the manuscript through the online submission system. SDC may include standard media such as text documents, graphs, audio, video, etc. On the Attach Files page of the submission process, please select Supplemental Audio, Video, or Data for your uploaded file as the Submission Item. If an article with SDC is accepted, our production staff will create a URL with the SDC file. The URL will be placed in the call-out within the article. SDC files are not copyedited by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins staff; they will be presented digitally as submitted. For a list of all available file types and detailed instructions on creating, naming, listing, citing, and uploading SDC, please visit http://links.lww.com/A142.

SDC Call-outs: SDC must be cited consecutively in the text of the submitted manuscript. Citations should include the type of material submitted (Audio, Figure, Table, etc.), be clearly labeled as “Supplemental Digital Content,” include the sequential list number, and provide a description of the supplemental content. All descriptive text should be included in the call-out as it will not appear elsewhere in the article.
Example:
We performed many tests on the degrees of flexibility in the elbow (see Video, Supplemental Digital Content 1, which demonstrates elbow flexibility) and found our results inconclusive.

List of SDC: A listing of SDC must be submitted at the end of the manuscript file. Include the SDC number and file type of the SDC. This text will be removed by our production staff and not be published.
Example:
Supplemental Digital Content 1.wmv

SDC File Requirements: All acceptable file types are permissible up to 10 MBs. For audio or video files greater than 10 MBs, authors should first query the journal office for approval. For a list of all available file types and detailed instructions, please visit http://links.lww.com/A142.

Style: Pattern manuscript style after the American Medical Association Manual of Style (9th edition). Stedman's Medical Dictionary (27th edition) and Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (10th edition) should be used as standard references. Refer to drugs and therapeutic agents by their accepted generic or chemical names, and do not abbreviate them. Use code numbers only when a generic name is not yet available. In that case, supply the chemical name and a figure giving the chemical structure of the drug. Capitalize the trade names of drugs and place them in parentheses after the generic names. To comply with trademark law, include the name and location (city and state in USA; city and country outside USA) of the manufacturer of any drug, supply, computer program, or equipment mentioned in the manuscript. Use the metric system to express units of measure and degrees Celsius to express temperatures, and use SI units rather than conventional units. Use numerals; numbers should not be spelled out (not even 1 through 9) except at the beginning of a sentence or where sense requires it. Refrain from using nonstandard acronyms or abbreviations.

Page proofs and corrections: Corresponding authors will receive page proofs electronically to check the copyedited and typeset article before publication. It is the author's responsibility to ensure that there are no errors in the proofs. Changes that have been made to make the article conform to Journal style should be allowed to stand if they do not alter the authors' meaning. Authors may be charged for alterations to the proofs beyond those required to correct errors or to answer queries. Proofs must be checked carefully and returned electronically within 24 to 48 hours of receipt, as requested in the cover letter sent by e-mail accompanying the page proofs.

Reprints: Authors will receive a reprint order form with their page proofs that includes reprint costs. Reprint requests should be returned with the corrected proofs, if possible. Reprints are normally shipped 6 to 8 weeks after publication of the issue in which the item appears. Contact the Reprint Department, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 351 West Camden Street, Baltimore, MD 21201-2436, with any questions.

CHECKLIST FOR CONTRIBUTORS
Please be sure the following provisions are met when you submit your manuscript:

  1. Original Articles are a maximum of 3,500 words and Brief Reports are a maximum of 2,000 words exclusive of abstract, acknowledgments, figures, tables, and references. Word count (exclusive of abstract, acknowledgments, figures, tables, and references), number of text pages (manuscript pages are numbered beginning with the title page), number of references, and number of figures/tables are listed on the unblinded title page. Manuscripts that exceed the word count will be returned to the authors without peer review. Manuscripts that have more than a total of 5 figures and/or tables and/or more than 50 references will be returned to the authors without peer review.
  2. Letters to the Editor are a maximum of 300 words and 10 references. Letters to the Editor that exceed these limits will be returned to the author without peer review.
  3. Manuscript is typewritten (12-point font) double-spaced, including references and figure legends (tables may be single spaced) without headers, footers, endnotes, or footnotes. There is no identifying information about the author(s) except on the unblinded title page. A structured abstract (maximum of 250 words) is included and lists its word count at the top of the abstract page.
  4. A cover letter is included and contains all the elements as listed above.
  5. An unblinded title page is included and contains all the elements as listed above.
  6. Manuscript must be submitted electronically. The first file should be the cover letter. The second file should be the unblinded title page. The third file should be the blinded manuscript. This is followed by any table and/or figure and/or SDC file(s).
  7. Permission is included to reproduce copyrighted materials or signed patient consent forms.
  8. References are in the format listed above.
  9. Tables and figures are uploaded as individual files as described above.
  10. SDC files are named correctly, called-out in the manuscript, listed at the end of the manuscript, and uploaded as individual files.
  11. When a paper is selected for revision and possible publication, a copy of the Authorship Responsibility, Financial Disclosure, and Copyright Transfer form signed by each author must be submitted electronically with the revised paper via the online submission system. Revised papers submitted without all the copyright forms will be returned for completion.
  12. Authors are expected to disclose to the editors all published work in which the data have been cited, and to provide the full manuscripts if requested by the editors.
  13. When making inquiries about your manuscript, please be prepared to supply the manuscript number and the corresponding author's name.
  14. If you do not receive an acknowledgment of receipt of your manuscript within 7 days from the Medical Care Editorial Office, please contact us at karen.doyle@wolterskluwer.com.