Fast-Track Process
The standard peer-review process and publication are free of charge in the Journal of Surgery and Medicine (JOSAM). All articles are freely available online and on the day of publication on the journal’s website. JOSAM articles are Open Access and fully compliant with Open Access mandates; they are free to read without a subscription. The journal issue is published monthly (the last week of every month).
Rapid journal publication is important for authors who need urgent publication of articles for many reasons such as graduation and promotions deadlines. The journal management committee acknowledges the difficulties faced by the authors, but to ensure the continuous appearance of the journal, has decided to charge a minimal fee to the authors. JOSAM guarantees that such urgent publication will not compromise quality. It should be clear to all authors that there is absolutely no difference in the acceptance/rejection rate when authors have opted for the Fast-Track Review plan, and there are no preferences that will be given for the Fast-Track Review plan.
Ensuring quality
Acceptance of articles is driven entirely by editorial considerations and independent peer-review, ensuring the highest standards are maintained no matter the route to publication. As a publisher, JOSAM SelSistem upholds the highest standards of ethical publishing and complies with ICMJE, COPE, and GPP-3 guidelines.
Terms and Conditions
JOSAM is a self-supporting organization and does not receive funding from any government institution/organization. Hence, the operation of the journal is solely performed by the voluntary efforts of the editors and reviewers. JOSAM, SelSistem, doesn’t have any financial agreement with the editors and reviewers. There is no charge to submit a paper to the journal. JOSAM has a standard evaluation period of 6 months with features of author-suggested reviewers. If you have an important and/or urgent paper that you want to be evaluated quickly, think Fast-track review plan (15 business days). This option is subject to a fee.
Detailed steps of a Fast-Track Review Plan
1 - Submit a manuscript, and obtain a manuscript ID; after scope and eligibility check, we offer a Fast-track plan.
2 - Send the payment
3 - The rapid review process will begin after confirmation.
4 - All following processes; editorial prerequisites check, double-blind review at least by two reviewers, and editorial decision; will be concluded within 15 business days.
5 - If the manuscript is accepted for publication, the next process will be the English language accuracy check and production stage.
6 - After approval of galley proof by the corresponding author, the manuscript will be published in a future issue.
What do the fast-track processing charges pay for?
Developing and maintaining quick publication, preparation in various formats for online publication, securing full-text inclusion in a number of permanent archives, and securing inclusion in CrossRef (enabling electronic citation in other journals that are available electronically). Our platform makes use of open-source software wherever possible, and all of our production work is done in-house ensuring rapid delivery of services by a highly skilled but cost-effective team. Our fees are fully transparent - you can trust us that every penny goes towards providing high-quality, sustainable publishing service, and not towards sky-high publisher profits.
Does the fast-track process cover academic English editing services?
No, Rapid (Fast-track process) Review plan doesn't cover or include English editing services, or any other service.
Why a flat charge rather than one based on page numbers?
The size of an article (article type, article page number, article content (figures or tables)) is a poor indicator of the actual amount of work involved in obtaining peer reviews and in preparing the article for publication. A more useful discriminator might be the state an article is in when submitted, and its complexity, but the lack of objective tools to measure these have led us to conclude that a flat fee is the fairest approach at this stage.
Does the fast-track process increase the chance of the paper’s acceptance?
No. PoolText or any other referral and/or Fast-track process does not increase the acceptance chance of manuscripts, and they do not affect the final decision (acceptance or decline). All manuscripts (with/without PoolText and/or Fast-Track Review Plan) are evaluated by at least two reviewers. Acceptance rates of fast-track-article or non-fast-track-article are similar. Paying a fast-track processing fee does not guarantee or increase the chances of acceptance of the article. To increase acceptance chance, please prepare articles according to related guidelines (STROBE, CONSORT, CARE). Supplementary Resources for improving article quality
Who is responsible for making the payment?
Whoever submits the manuscript is responsible for making and arranging the payment. The corresponding author must confirm, at the time of submission, that he/she will organize payment.
If the article is declined, is the fast-track process fee refunded?
No. We recommend the authors prepare articles under the relevant guidelines (STROBE, CONSORT, CARE) to increase acceptance to the journal. If the article is rejected, no fees are refundable.
If you think your article has enough quality for publication, and if you need quick processing (rapid review), request a fast-track process. Paying a fast-track fee does not guarantee acceptance. The JOSAM reserves the right to reject the paper if the paper has obvious flaws, and the fast-track fee will not be refunded.
Does JOSAM offer discounts on fast-track processing charges?
JOSAM doesn’t offer any discounts on fast-track processing charges.
Refund policy
The fast-track fee is not refundable under any circumstance.
An author possesses the right to request withdrawal of the manuscript. In case of withdrawal of the paper, there will be no refund after payment of the fast-track fee.
In case of discontinuation of a Fast-Track Review Plan by the author, there will be no refund after payment of the fast-track fee.
A Fast-track fee is not transferable to another manuscript or another author or another author’s paper.
We can't give either a discount, credit, or refund for fast-track articles that are pulled back after they have been paid for.
The submitting author accepts responsibility for the charges of fast-track, and JOSAM will not issue refunds of any kind except for those payments made more than the amount required.
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If you face any problems, please contact us for further guidance.
* Business days start from Monday to Friday
We reserve the right, in our sole discretion, to update, modify, or change any portion of these terms at any time. You should review the most current version. Your continued use of the Fast-track Review (Process) plan signifies that you accept the changes. If you do not agree with any of these terms and conditions, you should discontinue your use of the Fast-track Review plan.
