JPGN Enters the Electronic Age

Abstract

JPGN Enters the Electronic Age The Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition went live with electronic manuscript submission and review on May 1, 2005. This was a much anticipated event first raised as a possibility for JPGN in 2000 at a combined meeting of the NASPGHAN and ESPGHAN editorial boards in Boston, MA. At that time, the available systems were both expensive and cumbersome. Our publisher indicated that they were working to modify the “Editorial Manager” system, a product of Aries Systems (North Andover, MA), and asked for our patience in the matter. Over the intervening 5 years both editorial offices remained consigned to paper, but with an increasing fraction of the work done by e-mail. Finally, in early 2005 we reached the top of the queue and the complete system was installed in both the NASPGHAN and ESPGHAN offices. Manuscripts can now be submitted electronically. A press of a button assigns an associate editor. Our file of potential reviewers and their areas of expertise is integrated into the system, allowing the assigned editor to see a list of reviewers from both societies, their areas of interest, and their records of service to the journal. The editor can access all articles recently submitted by the authors and look at all the articles on a similar topic published in JPGN to avoid overlapping articles from the two editorial offices. Reviewers are solicited with the press of a key, and likewise they can accept or refuse the assignment electronically. As soon as a reviewer accepts an assignment, the manuscript is automatically sent to him or her. If the reviewer should decline to review, the editor is instantly notified so other reviewers can be selected. The reviews come to the attention of the editor the moment they are submitted. The author can access the progress of his/her paper at any time. The editor is automatically notified when all reviewers have responded and an e-mail demand for a decision is sent. If the reviewer does not complete the review in 14 days, the editorial office is notified and the reviewer automatically receives an electronic reminder. The editor has the opportunity to personalize the response letter to authors or reviewers to fit the specifics of the manuscript. All of these electronically programmed steps and many others reduce the delays inherent in a paper and telephone based system. Of course, the most lengthy component of the review process, the revision of the manuscript, is still in the author's hands and now more than ever is the most important factor in the length of the review process. Humans are indeed still involved in reading and assessing manuscripts in this system. And, just as there are editors, associate editors and reviewers who never opened their surface mail or answered their phones, there are also those who won't open their e-mail. That's a problem. Also, there are old dogs (like yours truly) who regret an absence of human contact in the review process and who are intimidated by the button pressing needed to run the program. That's a temporary problem. The paper saving, space saving, and most of all time saving in the office are fantastic, and the ability to keep up with the journal when the editorial assistant or the editors are away from the office is a real plus. After 3 months experience, we are expecting that our turn around time in the NASPGHAN office from manuscript receipt to final decision will drop by about 33% from 36 days to 24 days or even less. Our big brother, the computer, will prevent manuscripts from “falling through the cracks” as they occasionally have in the past. The electronic system opens up all sorts of possibilities to increase participation in the Journal. Because of facilitated communication, the associate editors, editor-in-chief and editorial assistant no longer have to live and work in the same institution. Maybe some functions of the NASPGHAN and ESPGHAN offices could even be combined. Thanks to our associates at Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins. It was a long wait but well worth it. There have been some bugs to work out. However, the program is a versatile one and easily modified to our specifications. If readers, authors, or reviewers have any comments or suggestions, we would be delighted to hear from you…..electronically of course. Our e-mail addresses are [email protected] and [email protected]. Judith M. Sondheimer Editor-in-Chief, NASPGHAN Alfredo Guarino Editor-in-Chief, ESPGHAN