A Call to Action

J Clin Pathways. 2022;8(1):8.

I would like to start by expressing my appreciation for your responding to our calls for submissions. Through your efforts, we have built up a strong pipeline of exciting new content that will allow us to expand our scope within the pathway arena. As an example of our expanded scope, in this issue, we have a paper focusing on the use of molecular diagnostics. There should be no disagreement on the expanding role of molecular diagnostic in the treatment decision making process. Unfortunately, molecular diagnostics are evolving so rapidly, that it is difficult to keep up with from the perspective of the providers that use these tests, to the laboratories that run the test, to the payers that reimburse for the test. While there has been references to the incorporation of molecular testing within pathways, there is still much confusion regarding which test are appropriate and which are not. This paper will describe the experience in 2 mid-size VA medical centers to create a process to standardize the ordering, fulfillment, and reporting process for molecular testing. We also have a paper seeking to identify social disparities that may impact the outcomes of chemotherapy treatment in the last 30 days of life. Later this year, I’m particularly interested in an upcoming series that focuses on ensuring that patients are involved in the pathway process. That series should begin publication just before summer. 

We have come a long way since 2015 to create a forum for various topics that are pertinent to the implementation and utilization of pathways. As we expand our scope, there comes a need to also expand the expertise of our peer reviewers. Simply put, we need our peer review capabilities to mirror our content. The peer review process is a critical step in the publication process, ensuring that the articles submitted to Journal of Clinical Pathways (JCP) are relevant to its audience. This process also provides an early opportunity for authors to tweak their work by addressing areas within the paper that might be confusing or would benefit from additional information. Nearly every article submitted to JCP benefits from an extra set of eyes. This process becomes even more critical as we expand our efforts to index the within the medical literature search engines. 

So why become a peer reviewer? First of all, your efforts will be deeply appreciated by the JCP editorial staff, as well you having the satisfaction of knowing you played a role in contributing to the medical/research literature. There are, however, some less obvious benefits. Personally, I have the opportunity to be at the leading edge of the pathway arena. Peer reviewers will get an early view of the latest developments in their chosen field. This often benefits their own work by increasing their visibility and standing among their peers. Peer reviewing also can help in your own efforts to publish. Seeing and identifying potential pitfalls that other authors face can help you avoid your own while also increasing your exposure to the journal’s editors. Editors know that strong peer reviewers often make excellent authors. 

JCP has a strong roster of peer reviewers, but we will need more as we expand our scope. If our indexing efforts succeed, we know that our submissions will increase. If you’re interested helping fellow readers and the journal’s editorial staff, drop a line to our Senior Managing Editor, Rob Fee (rfee@hmpglobal.com). I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to hear from you.