JADA’s system for handling manuscript submission and review, long dependent on paper and postage, has been streamlined to save time, money—and trees.
In November, The Journal of the American Dental Association introduced a new, fully electronic system for manuscript submission and review called JADA Manuscript Central. The state-of-the-art online system uses software developed by ScholarOne, a Web-based workflow management provider for scholarly publications.
"Manuscript Central will enhance JADA’s efficiency by speeding the process of manuscript handling," said Dr. Michael Glick, JADA editor.
"Until now, we have relied heavily on the postal system and overnight express in our contacts with authors and manuscript reviewers," he added. "Now, everything can be handled through e-mail. This will mean faster turnaround times, lowered costs and much less paperwork."
Using Manuscript Central, JADA authors and reviewers will receive all correspondence—including deadline reminders and notifications of manuscript status—via e-mail. Authors will submit their manuscripts and all related documents using a secure and confidential online JADA manuscript application.
Not only will the new system save paper, postage and review time, it also will help make JADA more responsive to the needs of its readers, said Dr. Glick.
"Our new online manuscript handling process will reduce the time between receipt of a manuscript and actual publication," said Dr. Glick. "Speeding the process will allow us to get useful, current information to our readers in a more timely fashion."
On the launch of the new system, authors with manuscripts already in review and reviewers already on JADA’s rolls received an e-mail notification that the site was available. They also were supplied with user IDs and passwords for logging into the site. Authors or reviewers who believe they should have received the e-mail notification but did not should check their e-mail program’s "spam" or "quarantine" folders for messages from "jadaoffice{at}ada.org" and add the address to their e-mail safe list.
JADA will continue to accept hard-copy submissions as authors and reviewers get accustomed to the new system. Following a grace period, however, manuscripts will be accepted exclusively through JADA Manuscript Central.
Important note: JADA Manuscript Central is accepting only new manuscripts. Any manuscript already in the JADA review process as of Nov. 15 should and will be handled in the traditional way via hard copy.
"We will be working closely with our authors and reviewers to help them get acquainted with the new system," said Dr. Glick. "We expect the transition to an online process to run smoothly and painlessly."
Manuscript Central offers an online help center and telephone support. In addition, the JADA editorial office (1-973-972-0651) can provide assistance.
For a more detailed description of how to use the system, see "JADA Manuscript Central: A User’s Guide for Authors and Reviewers," page 1656.
