Submission
Authors submit manuscripts through our online portal for initial processing.
Author Center
Submit Your Manuscript
The American Journal of Healthcare Strategy invites original research, reviews, and commentaries in healthcare strategy and policy. Review the guidelines below, then submit your manuscript through our online portal.
Start Submission Process(opens in a new tab)Questions? Contact our editorial team at submissions@ajhcs.org
Publication Process
Our editorial workflow is designed for clarity, quality, and timely publication.
Editorial Screening
Within two weeks, the editorial team assesses scope, completeness, and methodological soundness.
Peer Review
Manuscripts passing screening undergo single-blind peer review by subject-matter experts.
Decision
Authors receive one of four outcomes - accept, minor revisions, major revisions, or reject - with detailed reviewer feedback.
Author Revision
Authors address reviewer comments and resubmit with a point-by-point response letter.
Publication
Accepted articles undergo copyediting, receive a DOI, and are published open-access with promotion across platforms.
Manuscript Preparation
Article Types
AJHCS accepts the following manuscript types. Please review the requirements for your article type before submitting.
Original Research
Up to 5,000 wordsEmpirical studies presenting original data and findings in healthcare strategy
Review Articles
Up to 6,000 wordsSystematic, scoping, or narrative reviews synthesizing existing literature
Commentaries
Up to 2,000 wordsExpert perspectives on current healthcare strategy issues
Case Studies
Up to 3,500 wordsIn-depth analyses of specific healthcare organizations or strategic initiatives
Editorials
Up to 1,500 wordsInvited pieces from the editorial board or distinguished contributors
Manuscript Formatting
Document Format
Microsoft Word (.docx) or PDF
Spacing & Font
Double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman or Arial
Abstract
Structured abstract (Background, Methods, Results, Conclusions), up to 250 words
Keywords
4-6 keywords listed below the abstract
Citation Style
AMA Manual of Style (American Medical Association), numbered sequential references
Figures & Tables
Minimum 300 DPI resolution; TIFF, EPS, or PNG format; maximum 6 figures and tables combined
Supplementary Materials
Supplementary materials accepted as separate files with descriptive captions
Reporting Guidelines
Authors must follow the appropriate reporting guideline for their study design. AJHCS endorses the EQUATOR Network guidelines.
CONSORT
Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials
Randomized controlled trials
STROBE
Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology
Observational studies
PRISMA
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
Systematic reviews
CARE
Case Report Guidelines
Case reports
SQUIRE
Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence
Quality improvement studies
Aims and Scope
The American Journal of Healthcare Strategy (AJHCS) is a peer-reviewed academic journal dedicated to practical, evidence-based thought leadership in healthcare strategy.
Healthcare Policy and Reform
Exploring policy changes, regulatory impacts, and the effects of healthcare legislation on systems and populations.
Healthcare Administration and Management
Offering insights into best practices, leadership models, and innovative management strategies in healthcare organizations.
Health Economics and Financial Strategy
Analyzing economic trends, cost management, and financial strategies within healthcare systems.
Bioethics and Medical Ethics
Addressing ethical considerations in clinical practices, healthcare delivery, and decision-making processes.
Health Technology and Innovation
Covering advancements in digital health, telemedicine, artificial intelligence, and other technologies shaping healthcare delivery.
Workforce Development and Education
Exploring strategies for training the next generation of healthcare professionals and enhancing workforce effectiveness.
Why Publish with AJHCS
AJHCS balances academic rigor with an accessible publication experience for strategy-focused healthcare contributors.
Diverse Perspectives Welcome
Whether you're an established expert or an emerging professional, AJHCS welcomes submissions from individuals of all educational backgrounds and career stages.
Timely, Relevant Content
We've optimized our publication process to deliver timely, relevant content with a streamlined review cycle.
Ethical and Author-Friendly
We support our authors through comprehensive editing and feedback while allowing flexibility to express unique ideas and perspectives.
Broad Reach and Visibility
Publishing with AJHCS places your work in front of healthcare professionals, policymakers, and operational leaders.
Editorial Standards & Ethics
AJHCS is committed to the highest standards of integrity in scholarly publishing. We follow the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki.
Integrity and Accountability
All published content adheres to rigorous ethical guidelines. Potential conflicts of interest must be fully disclosed.
Peer Review Standards
AJHCS employs single-blind peer review. Content is evaluated on methodological rigor, originality, and relevance. We follow COPE guidelines.
Confidentiality
All submissions are treated with strict confidentiality. Reviewer identities are not disclosed to authors.
Plagiarism and Originality
All manuscripts are screened for originality. Plagiarism constitutes a serious violation of publication ethics.
Research Ethics
AJHCS adheres to the Declaration of Helsinki. Research involving human subjects must have IRB approval. Informed consent must be obtained.
Data Integrity
Authors must provide accurate data and be transparent about methods. Fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate data manipulation is prohibited.
Author Rights
Authors retain copyright under CC-BY 4.0. Authors may distribute, adapt, and build upon their work with appropriate credit.
Corrections and Retractions
Errors in published content will be addressed through corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions, following COPE guidelines.
Authorship (ICMJE Criteria)
AJHCS follows the ICMJE criteria. All listed authors must meet ALL four criteria:
- Substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work, or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data
- Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content
- Final approval of the version to be published
- Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work
Use of Artificial Intelligence
Authors who use AI-assisted tools (e.g., large language models, machine learning tools) in the preparation of their manuscript must disclose this usage in the Methods or Acknowledgments section, specifying the tool used, the version, and the nature of its contribution. In accordance with ICMJE and COPE guidelines, AI tools cannot fulfill authorship criteria and must not be listed as authors. Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of all content, including any text, data, or analyses generated with AI assistance.
Additional Policies
Duplicate Submission
Manuscripts submitted to AJHCS must not be under consideration by another journal. Simultaneous submission is grounds for immediate rejection.
Preprint Policy
AJHCS permits submission of manuscripts previously posted on recognized preprint servers (e.g., medRxiv, SSRN). Authors must disclose any preprint posting at submission and provide the DOI or URL.
Data Availability
Authors must include a Data Availability Statement indicating where supporting data can be accessed, or explaining why data cannot be shared.
Funding Disclosure
All sources of financial support must be disclosed, including grant numbers and funding agencies. The role of funders in study design, data collection, analysis, and manuscript preparation must be described.
Clinical Trial Registration
All clinical trials must be registered prospectively in a public registry (e.g., ClinicalTrials.gov) before participant enrollment.
Open Access and Licensing
Fully Open Access
AJHCS operates under a fully open-access model, providing unrestricted access to published content. All articles are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY 4.0), while authors retain copyright.
CC-BY 4.0 License: You may share and adapt published content for any purpose, including commercially, when appropriate author attribution, AJHCS citation, and change disclosures are provided.
Before You Submit
Ensure you have prepared the following materials before starting the submission process.
- Cover letter addressed to the Editor-in-Chief
- Manuscript formatted per AJHCS guidelines (double-spaced, 12pt font)
- Structured abstract (up to 250 words)
- 4-6 keywords
- All figures and tables as separate high-resolution files
- References in AMA format
- Author contributions statement (CRediT taxonomy)
- ICMJE conflict of interest disclosure for all authors
- Data availability statement
- Applicable reporting guideline checklist (CONSORT, STROBE, PRISMA, CARE)
- IRB/ethics committee approval documentation (if applicable)
- AI tool usage disclosure (if applicable)
Ready to Submit?
Review the guidelines above, prepare your materials using our submission checklist, and start the process.
Start Submission Process(opens in a new tab)Questions? Contact our editorial team at submissions@ajhcs.org