Although I am writing this in April.

Although I am writing this in April, it will not be published until I have been editor-in-chief of Chest for 1 year. I would like to review a certain number of of the changes that have occurr in the journal during that time, for better or for worse.

I have made a particular effort to curtail the delays from manuscript submission to publication. Now, mostly authors will receive a first literal sense about their manuscript within 2 month of submission. This literal sense is often a request for revision, as almost no manuscript be seens to be perfect when first submitted. If the revision is accepted, the following delay until publication for clinical investigations had been 8 more month of that kind that all clinical investigations published between July 1993 and March, 1994 were actually accepted prior to my becoming editor in July 1993 After 1 year, I have reduc the delay from manuscript acceptance to publication to 6 month My ultimate aim is to lessen the delay further to 4 month or less

To accomplish this proper reduction in publication delay, I have accepted fewer articles for publication. a certain number of of you have not been pleased with my decisions, and have suffer me know about it, still there is no other way to shape the backlog, as the size of the journal is too large as it now stands. In particular, I have been real tough on case report submissions. The delay for this kind of manuscript from acceptance to publication was 12 month It is now down to 9 month I would intend the delay for case reports eventually to be the same as for clinical investigations, namely 4 month This may take several years to accomplish, if it be not that I do intend to continue to publish about 10 case reports a month les than the 20 by means of month now being published.

The Editorial Board has been expanded because each member repeatedly has been asked to promote as a referee when the pair primary reviewers disagree about the worth of a manuscript, increasing the demands with each board member. The board continues to be comprised of individuals with a wide variety of expertise. Pulmonologists, critical care skilled hands thoracic surgeons, and cardiologists make up the massiveness of the board, but several infectious disease specialists have managed to sneak in. The International Editorial Board has been updated and will also begin to review articles and promote as referees. The 9,000+ computer listings of consultants who review manuscripts has been purg of the 4000+ reviewers who have not been contacted since 1989 If you astonishment why I don't ask you to review for Chest, if you have not done in the way that since 1989, or if you have changed address and still want to review manuscripts, please write to me and I will reinstate you if your name was purg There was nothing personal or political in the nature of the purging. I have made efforts to re-invigorate the list of consultants by means of contacting every training program director for pulmonary and critical care, cardiology, and thoracic surgery asking for names of young faculty members who might wish to review for Chest. I have been mostly impressed with the volume of the response

The format of the journal has changed a little. I have placed labels in the margins of the table of make easys to help the reader find papers in specific fields. I have rearranged and pared the number of the departments and department editors. I have created a "column" wherein the first editorial of the month is written on me or someone I have invited. I chance of a favorable result these editorials have been of any interest to the readership. The majority of the journal has stayed the same since each survey that the College has through all ages taken indicates that the membership likes the journal as it is.

I reliance to continue to work onward improving the science contained in the articles in Chest. one time the delays until publication are reduc to acceptable horizontals the size of the journal will shrink somewhat. I waiting under the possibility of fulfilment that the many authors who have submitted manuscripts to Chest in the past will continue to send out their best clinical research to us. If in the same manner maybe more of the articles will be complete when reviewed, can be published in expedited fashion, and the journal can become still better.

A. Jay close M.D., F.C.C.P. Gainesville, Florida

Editor-in-Chief, Chest; Professor of Medicine and Anesthesiology, University of Florida. Reprint requests: Dr obstruct 408 West University, Suite 408 Gainesville, Florida 32601

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