Table of Contents

• ABOUT US
• FREQUENCY
• ARTICLE SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
• ARTICLE TYPES
1. Original Research
2. Health Economics
3. Review Articles
4. Case Reports
5. Practice Pearls
6. Puzzles in Practice
7. Supplements
• MANUSCRIPT COMPONENTS
• PEER-REVIEW PROCESS
• SUBMISSION OF PAPERS - FEES
• CITING FAST-TRACK ARTICLES
• PRODUCTION SCHEDULE

Hospital Practice is a peer-reviewed journal published four times annually that serves the hospitalist's range of inpatients. We cover the latest in-hospital treatments and protocols serving the needs of patients pre- and post-discharge, and routinely cover such topics as: venous thromboembolism, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism; prophylaxis; cardiovascular disease and events; transition of care; infectious disease and nosocomial infections; in-hospital glycemic control; and acute respiratory conditions. Hospital Practice is a peer-to-peer method of communicating the latest research to aid hospitalists' advancement in treatment and best practices. Our mission is to provide relevant, useful, and authoritative medical information to help hospitalists solve clinical problems and improve patient care. Thanks to contributions from leading physicians and researchers from around the world, each issue contains original research, review articles, case reports, and editorials, which assist hospitalists in making decisions by including the latest techniques and treatment options for their patients.

Hospital Practice is published four times annually and some articles are published ahead of print online. We also offer an expedited Fast-Track peer-review process specifically for articles featuring time-sensitive information. Most articles are indexed in MEDLINE/PubMed and most other indexing services. ISSN 0018–5809

All manuscripts are now to be submitted online via Hospital Practice Web site: www.hosppract.com. From that homepage, find the "Authors" drop-down menu and select "Submit a Manuscript." Each of the required components should be uploaded and submitted together with the manuscript, including: (1) a cover letter listing all authors (and e-mail addresses), and stating that the manuscript is the authors' own original work and has not been published or is not being considered for publication elsewhere; (2) figure files (jpg, tif, eps); (3) a separate Release and Disclosure form for each coauthor (please note that there is a 5-author maximum for each submitted manuscript); (4) all permissions for previously published material. Hospital Practice conforms to AMA style.

Please direct any manuscript-related queries (e.g., permissions, submission questions, status questions, or formatting issues) to the editorial director at: editorial@hosppract.com. Please direct any business-related queries (e.g., advertising, subscriptions, or publishing a supplement) to the managing director at: j.elduff@hosppract.com.

Hospital Practice accepts the following article types: (1) Original Research, (2) Health Economics, (3) Review Articles, (4) Case Reports, (5) Practice Pearls, (6) Puzzles in Practice, (7) Exercise is Medicine, and (8) Supplements.

Original research articles are formal investigative studies that focus on timely clinical issues. These reports typically include randomized trials, intervention studies, cohort studies, case-control studies, epidemiologic assessments, other observational studies, surveys with high response rates, cost-effectiveness analyses and decision analyses, and studies of screening and diagnostic tests. Each manuscript should clearly state an objective or hypothesis; the design and methods (including the study setting and dates, patients or participants with inclusion and exclusion criteria and/or participation or response rates, or data sources, and how these were selected for the study); the essential features of any interventions; the main outcome measures; the main results of the study; a comment section placing the results in context with the published literature and addressing study limitations; and the conclusions. Data included in research reports should be as current as possible. A signed author disclosure form is required before any submission can be published.

Original research articles should be organized as follows:

1. Title Page
2. Abstract (Please include 4–6 keywords for indexing.)
3. Introduction
4. Materials and Methods
5. Results
6. Discussion
7. Summary
8. Acknowledgments
9. References
10. Figure Legends
11. Tables
12. Figures
13. Three educational objectives and questions (optional)
14. Treatment algorithm(s) (optional)

Original Research articles:
Length: 2,500–4,000 words
Abstract: maximum, 300 words
References: maximum, 80 sources
Figures/tables: minimum, 1 figure or table


Articles featured in the Health Economics section of Hospital Practice address specific economic issues in clinical medicine, health care policy, or medical research. Article topics include but are not limited to demand and utilization of health services, financing of health services, behavioral models of demanders, suppliers, and other health care agencies, matters directly or indirectly influencing changes in patient care, cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analyses and budgeting, and efficiency and distributional aspects of health policy. A signed author disclosure form is required before any submission can be published.

Health Economics articles should be organized as follows:

1. Title page
2. Abstract (Please include 4–6 keywords for indexing.)
3. Introduction
4. Materials and Methods
5. Discussion
6. Summary
7. References
8. Figure Legends
9. Tables
10. Figures
11. Three educational objectives and questions (optional)
12. Treatment algorithm(s) (optional)

Health Economics articles:
Length: 2,500–4,000 words
Abstract: maximum, 300 words
References: maximum, 80 sources
Figures/tables: minimum, 1 figure or table


Review articles are comprehensive analyses and meta-analyses of specific topics that are relevant to our readers. Review articles published in Hospital Practice are both solicited and unsolicited. The submitted article should describe current developments in the field of clinical medicine. All review articles should present content that is accessible to readers who are not intimately familiar with the subject being reviewed. As such, all review articles should increase readers' interest and describe important developments. We encourage authors to contact the editorial department to discuss any unsolicited article topics in order to avoid replication of previously published or already submitted articles. A signed author disclosure form is required before any submission can be published.

Review articles should be organized as follows:

1. Title Page
2. Abstract (Please include 4–6 keywords for indexing.)
3. Introduction
4. Materials and Methods
5. Summary
6. Acknowledgments
7. References
8. Figure Legends
9. Tables
10. Figures
11. Three educational objectives and questions (optional)
12. Treatment algorithm(s) (optional)

Review articles:
Length: 2,500–4,000 words (Including abstract but excluding references, legends, tables, and figures)
Abstract: maximum, 300 words
References: maximum, 80 sources
Figures/tables: minimum, 1 figure or table


Case reports should include the etiology, diagnosis, and management of a single case. Case reports should help primary care physicians improve patient care. They should include information on the background of the patient, how the initial diagnosis was reached, discussion of the differential diagnosis, and discussion about treatment and management. Case reports can focus on unique cases, unexpected associations, unusual side effects or adverse medication interaction, unusual disease presentation, management of new diseases, unexpected events during the treatment course, pathogenesis of a disease, or any other substantial findings of educational value. Data regarding suspected adverse drug reactions should provide a description of the event, details regarding the implicated medication (purpose, when initiated), previous adverse drug reactions with similar drugs, effects of dechallenge or rechallenge, and treatment for the reaction. The report should be factual, concise, logically organized, and clearly presented.

We encourage authors to submit relevant figures. Be sure to include any IRB protocol numbers if applicable. A signed author disclosure form is required before any submission can be published. As established in the AMA Manual of Style: A Guide for Authors and Editors (10th edition), we also require a signed informed consent statement specifying that the patient appearing in any identifiable images is aware that they will be featured in the submitted case report.

Case reports should be organized as follows:

1. Title Page
2. Abstract (Please include 4–6 keywords for indexing.)
3. Introduction (Specify the subject/purpose of the case report.)
4. Case History (Provide a narrative account of the patient including clinical, laboratory, and relevant medical information.)
5. Discussion (If applicable, provide evidence that the case is new or unusual. If applicable, also include any adverse drug reaction-medication relationship, how to treat it, and how to avoid it.)
6. Summary
7. References
8. Tables
9. Figures
10. Figure Legends
11. Three educational objectives and questions (optional)
12. Treatment algorithm(s) (optional)

Case Reports:
Length: 2000–2,500 words
Abstract: maximum, 150 words
References: maximum, 30 sources
Figures/tables: minimum, 1 figure


Practice Pearls are 2-to-4 page summaries of practical clinical applications based on original research or a review article that clearly demonstrates the proven advantage a given technique or therapy has in the advancement of patient care. Practice Pearls are intended to share the knowledge derived from research with peers. The information featured in the Practice Pearls section is peer-reviewed to ensure accuracy and clinical relevance, and must be applicable to solving everyday clinical problems and situations that are pertinent to treating physicians. Practice Pearls can be related to patient management and helpful diagnostic techniques, and each should be based upon a recent clinical study that demonstrates clear advancement of medicine in the name of patient care. We strongly encourage the inclusion of safety protocols whenever possible to support the learning experience among your peers. Practice Pearls should be no more than 1100 words in length and adapt to the template format for submission.

Practice Pearls should be organized as follows:

1. Original Title of study
2. History of the Condition(s) covered in the article. (50 words max)
3. Objectives of the study (50 words max)
4. Study design description (40 words max)
5. Study Participants (80 words max)
6. Data Application in Practice (Explain how the data were tested in clinical practice. 100 words max)
7. Outcome Measures (40 words max)
8. Conclusion From Data (50 words max)
9. Findings (300 words max)
10. Commentary (Provide an analysis of the article, focusing on how the information can be applied in clinical practice, such as treatment options, prevention, vaccines, etc. The commentary should explain how the article applies to primary care physicians. 300-700 words)
11. References (Reference the works cited in the commentary, excluding the article being summarized)

Practice Pearls:
Length: 700-1100 words each

Puzzles in Practice articles offer a brief case report of a patient's presenting symptoms in order for primary care physicians to determine a diagnosis. Authors are required to submit a very clear high-resolution image (e.g., clinical photograph, radiograph, etc.) of the patient. A signed author disclosure form is required before any submission can be published. As established in the AMA Manual of Style: A Guide for Authors and Editors (10th edition), we also require a signed informed consent statement for identifiable patient images, specifying that the patient is aware that they will be featured in the submitted Puzzles in Practice case report.

Puzzles in Practice articles should be organized as follows:

1. Title page
2. Case Report (Provide a narrative account of the patient including clinical, laboratory, and relevant medical information.)
3. Discussion (State the diagnosis and provide relevant treatment information.)
4. References

Puzzles in Practice:
Length: 800–1,200 words
References: maximum, 20 sources
Figures: maximum, 3 figures


Hospital Practice considers both accredited and non-accredited commercially supported supplements for acceptance by the journal. Please send us an outline including the authors, topic, and commercial supporter for provisional approval by the journal and Editor-in-Chief. Please contact the editorial office for supplement pricing quotes.

1. Title page: Provide the article title (100-character maximum), running title (50-character maximum), full name of each author, his/her highest degree(s) attained, institutional affiliation, and title of current position. One author must be designated as the corresponding author with contact information (i.e., mailing address, office phone number, mobile phone number, fax number, and e-mail address).
2. Manuscript text: The manuscript must be double spaced and left aligned. The margins should be set at 1" on 8.5 x 11 paper. Each page should include a header with the author's last name and page number. The text should be separated into relevant sections and paragraphs with appropriate headings.
3. References: All references must be cited within the text. The editorial department checks all references for validity; however, the initial accuracy of all references is the author's responsibility. All references must be published. Please cite full sources, not abstracts and posters. References should be current and numbered consecutively in the order in which they are cited in the text.
4. Tables: All tables require a number and heading (e.g., Table 1. Gastrointestinal Risk Factors in Patients Taking NSAIDs) and should be numbered consecutively according to their order of appearance in the text. Tables should be parenthetically referenced in order within the text. We require a letter of permission from the original publisher for any previously published tables.
5. Figures: All figures (e.g., photographic images, stains, radiographs, etc.) should be high-resolution .jpg or .tif files. For digital photographs, please make sure that the resolution is at least 350 ppi and that the length does not exceed 5 inches. Figures should be parenthetically referenced in order within the text. We require a letter of permission from the original publisher for any previously published figures. A patient-signed release form is required for publishing photographic images that show any identifying features.
6. Figure Legends: The figure legends page should provide brief descriptions of what each figure shows. All figure legends must be written in complete sentences. Please indicate the magnification for all photomicrographic material.
7. Education objectives and questions (Optional): Articles accepted for publication in Hospital Practice may be included in an educational offering sponsored by Interstate Postgraduate Medical Assembly. If submitting, authors should include a list of three main objectives that identify the most important points of the article. They should also provide one multiple choice question (with A, B, C, D answer options) for each of the three objectives. Each question must have only one unarguably correct answer which must be contained in the article. We do not use "True or False" questions or "All of the above/None of the above" answer options.
8. Complete Hospital Practice's "Author Release and Financial Disclosure Form"
9. Complete Hospital Practice's "Consent for Publication of Identifying Material" (if applicable)

All solicited and unsolicited articles go through the same stringent peer-review process; therefore, revisions may be required as a condition of acceptance. The corresponding author should expect to receive a decision regarding acceptance, revision, or rejection within 4 to 6 weeks after receiving the initial confirmation e-mail acknowledging receipt of the manuscript.

Upon receiving the manuscript, the editor will first review each submission to determine its relevancy. Manuscripts are reviewed for clarity, clinical relevance, technical accuracy, methodology, and objectivity. If deemed suitable for inclusion in Hospital Practice, the editor then sends the article to independent reviewers.

Each reviewer is informed of the deadline date for returning their evaluation to the authors (whether Fast-Track or standard review). If a reviewer does not return his or her manuscript evaluation by the deadline date, then the editor will either send a follow-up e-mail requesting the review or will appoint a new reviewer.

After receiving the reviews, the editorial department decides on acceptance or rejection. If accepted, the editor then e-mails the corresponding author with the reviewers' comments. If a manuscript requires further modification, it must be returned to the editor with an accompanying Word document explaining each change made to the original article per the reviewers' suggestions. When accepted for publication, every author must sign a copyright agreement and financial disclosure form before the manuscript can be published. Accepted manuscripts will not be published without this documentation.

Regular Submission (Standard Peer Review)
Scholarly publications (non-commercially supported) do not have any associated fees.

Commercially Supported Submission (Standard Peer Review)
Because Hospital Practice doesn't offer advertising within the journal, a service fee is charged for accepted commercially supported papers to assist in preparation and distribution costs, thus allowing development and distribution of all accepted manuscripts within 7-10 weeks of acceptance. Please contact the editor (editorial@hosppract.com) for a price quote after acceptance. The ability to pay the fee does not influence acceptance decisions regarding a paper, which is solely determined by the peer-review process.

Fast-Track Submission (Rapid Fast-Track Peer Review)
Fast-Track is made available in Hospital Practice for those papers requiring immediate review, for an additional fee. Complete peer review is completed in 1 to 2 weeks and comments are provided to the author within 72 hours of their receipt by the editorial office. Authors are asked to submit a revised manuscript within 10 to 12 days. Accepted manuscripts are processed within 2 to 3 weeks, published online within 3 business days of final author approval, and in print in the next available issue.

If you would like to use Fast-Track submission, please request this service with your submission in your cover letter, using "Fast-Track" in the subject line for online submissions or in your e-mail. When sending your submission, please fax a completed payment form. We must receive this form before we can proceed with peer-review process. To cover the cost incurred for expedited review ($2,000), you will be charged an initial $500 on receipt of your submission. If your paper is rejected, there will be no further charges. If accepted, the remainder of the fee will automatically be charged. There is also an additional per-page fee for print or a $1,200.00 flat fee for e-publication only.

Fast-Track articles are assigned a digital object identifier (DOI) which allows the paper to be cited in the literature immediately following online publication. Hospital Practice DOI prefix is 10.3810. DOI suffix numbers are assigned by Hospital Practice. DOI article suffix numbers are unique to each article. Below are two examples for citing a reference that (1) has been published Fast-Track online (not yet published in print) and (2) when the reference is published in print afterward.

Example for citing a reference published online (not yet published in print):
Cannon CP, Braunwald E, McCabe CH, et al; Pravastatin or Atorvastatin Evaluation and Infection Therapy — Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 22 Investigators. Comparison of intensive and moderate lipid lowering with statins after acute coronary syndromes [published online ahead of print March 8, 2004]. N Engl J Med. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa040583.

Example for a reference originally published online after it has been published in print:
Cannon CP, Braunwald E, McCabe CH, et al; Pravastatin or Atorvastatin Evaluation and Infection Therapy — Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 22 Investigators. Comparison of intensive and moderate lipid lowering with statins after acute coronary syndromes [published online ahead of print March 8, 2004]. N Engl J Med. 2004;350(15):1495-1504. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa040583.

Waiver
Fees for non commercially supported papers are waived at the publishers discretion.
[ISSN: 0018-5809]

Published quarterly: February, April, June, and November.