The health informatics and information management field is evolving rapidly, and so must the ways in which we disseminate knowledge and advance scholarly discourse. We as health professionals understand better than most how important it is for nomenclature and content to match, with form following function. With that at the forefront of our minds, we are beginning 2025 by announcing some exciting changes—and some renewed commitments to you as readers, authors, and reviewers!

A New Name for a New Era

To better reflect our scholarly journal’s expanding scope and mission, we are excited to announce that Perspectives in Health Information Management has been renamed Advances in Health Information Science and Practice (AHISP). This was a considered decision made from the view that the word “perspective” is more of a mental view. The Editorial Board felt strongly that this peer-reviewed publication needed to focus on health information research (the science) and evidence-based practice. This change represents a renewed commitment to showcasing cutting-edge research, innovative methodologies, effective education, and impactful practices that shape the future of health information science.

The archival content from Perspectives in Health Information Management will remain attached to the title on our own website and through PubMed—meaning, you will still have seamless access to it, regardless of the title change. I am proud to publish this Editorial to introduce Volume 1, Issue 1 of Advances in Health Information Science and Practice, and I am excited to see the content in this issue join the list of impactful articles we’ve published in the past under the previous name.

Enhancing Accessibility and Organization

As part of this transformation, we have carefully reviewed best practices for article formatting in scholarly publishing, commonly referred to as the Journal Article Tag Suite, or JATS, which was developed by the National Information Standards Organization¹ and is now the standard used by many indexing services, including the National Library of Medicine’s PubMed database. Aligning with those standards is incredibly important, so we have consolidated our previous manuscript types into a list that many of you as researchers are likely to recognize: Research Article, Review Article, and so on.

These standard article formats also have the advantage of clearly communicating to readers what the purpose of each article is; if a reader opens a Review Article, for example, they’ll know automatically that the author has systematically examined previously-published research to provide a “state of the science” update. They can also use the article topic tags (Education, Data Analytics, Revenue Cycle, and so on), which will now appear at the top of an article, to easily find articles that interest them professionally.

In essence, by having a standard and recognizable set of article types, we are enhancing the clarity of the journal’s purpose and structure. We hope this reorganization will make it easier for authors to contribute their work and for readers to navigate and engage with published research. Our website is undergoing revisions to reflect these updates, including crosslinking of article topics to provide a more natural and engaging user experience for authors, reviewers, and readers alike.

A More Efficient Submission and Review Process

In another change that signifies our desire to provide a seamless user experience, we are pleased to announce our transition to Scholastica, a streamlined online submission and peer-review platform. We introduced this system in January 2025 and have already found that the process is more efficient for both authors and reviewers. By leveraging Scholastica’s intuitive interface, we aim to improve the speed and quality of our editorial workflow while maintaining the high standards of rigor and integrity that define our journal. Future efforts will include author and reviewer informational webinars that aim to help researchers leverage their limited time effectively.

A New Publication Model with Greater Impact

To further enhance the accessibility and timeliness of dissemination, AHISP will now publish accepted manuscripts on a rolling basis, often referred to as continuous publishing. Rather than waiting for designated issue releases, articles will be available online immediately after acceptance and typesetting, ensuring that valuable information reaches our community without unnecessary delays. Each manuscript will receive a Digital Object Identifier (DOI), facilitating citation and long-term accessibility. Additionally, all published manuscripts can be read in either PDF or XML format, allowing readers to access and share scholarly work in the way that works best for them.

Commitment to Indexing, Journal Impact Factor, and Research Visibility

One of our long-term goals is to position AHISP for a successful application for a Journal Impact Factor (JIF).² The JIF, issued annually in Clarivate’s Journal Citation Report, represents the average number of times articles in a given journal were cited in the previous two years. Although it is only one of several recognized impact metrics, it remains the most important for authors as part of their publishing strategy. It often influences the journals authors select for submission. This strategic initiative will increase the AHISP’s visibility and academic influence, attracting high-quality submissions and reinforcing our role as a key publication in health information science and practice. In temporary lieu of a JIF, we remain proud to be indexed in PubMed Central, which ensures that the high-quality research published in AHISP remains discoverable and influential within the broader health sciences community. We also provide several other supportive services to authors that might not be available at other journals, including peer review and publishing turnaround times.

As part of this Editorial, I ask you, as our colleagues in the health information field, to consider AHISP for your future research. Just as many of us strive for recognition in our professional endeavors, our journal can and should reflect the critical role our work plays in advancing high-quality patient care. By collectively selecting and publishing high-quality research, we can ensure our contributions are acknowledged and valued. It begins with your submissions!

Improved Publishing Timelines for Authors

As noted, we recognize the importance of timely publication for authors and readers. While we remain committed to a robust review process that includes two anonymized reviewers for every article selected to undergo full peer review, we have also renewed our commitment to streamlining our processes to enhance efficiency. That includes a more straightforward reviewer form, use of the Scholastica web platform described earlier in this Editorial, and future training that will support reviewers. Likewise, continuous publishing helps minimize delays between when an article is accepted and when readers can access it. These improvements address feedback from previous authors and will ensure that AHISP remains a competitive and desirable venue for scholarly contributions.

Encouraging Cross-Disciplinary Insights

AHISP aims to serve a diverse audience, welcoming contributions from professionals across various backgrounds in health information science and practice. By fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration, we hope to inspire innovative research, new methodologies, and broader perspectives that advance the field.

Strengthening Our Reputation as a Peer-Reviewed Journal

The AHISP Editorial Board is actively engaged in strengthening the journal’s reputation and impact. We meet regularly to develop strategies for attracting high-quality submissions, expanding our reviewer pool, and fostering a dynamic scholarly community. These efforts aim to solidify AHISP as a leading venue in health information science and practice. We always welcome thoughts from our readers and authors, both past and future, and look forward to engaging with you in the years to come.

Looking Ahead

The evolution of AHISP marks a significant milestone in our journey as a peer-reviewed publication. We invite researchers, practitioners, educators, and students to contribute to this new chapter by submitting their work, engaging in the peer review process, and supporting the journal’s mission to advance health information science and practice knowledge. We look forward to the continued growth and impact of AHISP and are excited about the opportunities ahead. We hope you are, too!

We invite you to visit the new website for AHISP: ahisp.ahima.org. To volunteer as a reviewer, please email us with your CV and areas of interest: ahisp@ahima.org. To submit your scholarly work, please visit our website and begin at the Information For Authors page.

We want to acknowledge the AHIMA Board and staff, especially Melissa Schmidt, for their extraordinary support in making this evolution possible.

For questions or to provide other feedback, please feel free to contact me.

Thank you for your ongoing support and engagement with Advances in Health Information Science and Practice.

Sincerely,

Susan H. Fenton, PhD, RHIA, ACHIP, FAHIMA, FAMIA
Editor-in-Chief
Advances in Health Information Science and Practice
susan.h.fenton@uth.tmc.edu.

Disclosures

Susan Fenton is Editor-in-Chief of Advances in Health Information Science and Practice. She is also a Board member of the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and a member of the Health Informatics Commission of the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA).