Call for Papers for HSR Theme Issue: Improving Efficiency and Value in Health Care

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the AHRQ National Resource Center for Health Information Technology invite you to submit a manuscript to the first Theme Issue of Health Services Research (HSR). This first theme, sponsored by AHRQ, is titled "Improving Efficiency and Value in Health Care."

The journal seeks three types of manuscripts for its Theme Series:

• Research Papers presenting the results of original research that can inform efforts to improve efficiency and value.  Possible areas of focus include increasing efficiency at the provider or system level (e.g., through process improvements, substitution of more cost-effective technologies, benefit plan redesign, or improved incentives or organizational arrangements), and improving the functioning of health care markets (for example through increased competition or greater price and quality transparency). 
  
• Research Methods Papers reporting methodological advances that improve the reliability and utility of research on efficiency and value for public and private policymakers, payers, and consumers.
  
• Evaluations or Policy Analyses using rigorous methods to evaluate the results of pilot programs, demonstrations, or other large-scale initiatives (e.g., public reporting, provider or consumer incentives, regional or national voluntary 'campaigns', etc.) designed to improve efficiency and value.

The deadline for submission of manuscripts is August 21, 2007. The anticipated publication date in print for the Theme Issue is October 2008. Individual manuscripts selected for publication in the Theme Issue will be released electronically in OnlineEarly within 2 months of initial acceptance. Accepted manuscripts not selected for final publication in the Theme Issue will be placed in the queue for publication as all regular manuscripts based on their acceptance date.

For more information, please consult the HSR Web site at: http://www.hsr.org/hsr/information/authors.jsp. When submitting manuscripts, authors should follow publication guidelines established by the journal. They can be found online at: http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/societyimages/hsr/HSR%20Instructions_2007.pdf. All manuscripts submitted for the Theme Issue will undergo the same peer review process as all regular manuscripts and will be evaluated using HSR's standards for publication.