Frequently Asked Questions
First Time Submission
- Q What if I have difficulty accessing the reviewer or author website?
- A Usually these problems arise due to computer security settings, the browser you are using, and pop-up blockers. Listed below are a few suggestions:
- If you are using Internet Explorer, you may want to add www.rapidreview.com to your list of Trusted Sites and to enable pop-ups from Rapid Review.
- Please follow the detailed instructions relating to Internet Explorer 7 that can be found on our support site
- Holding down the control key will bypass most popup window blockers in case you have more than one blocker running.
- Q What if I continue to have access problems?
- A To better assist you with your problems please have the following information available when you call the Journal office:
- Which operating system are you using? (Windows 98/2K/XP/Vista or Mac OS 9.2/10.0/10.1/10.2/10.3/10.4/10.5)
- Which browser version are you using? (Internet Explorer 6.0/7.0, Netscape 7.0/7.1/7.2/8.0, Safari 1.3/2.0, or Firefox 1.4/1.5/2.0)
- Do you receive an error message? If so, which specific error message do you receive?
- Q If I am a first time author and I want to submit a manuscript, how do I begin using the electronic submission process?
- A Go to the AMSUS website and double click on the AMSUS seal. Once you get to the home page, select "Journal" and a drop down menu will appear. Choose "submit a manuscript." You will be given the option of reviewing the author guidelines for manuscript instructions or the ability to go right to the submission website. If you would like begin submitting your manuscript, choose "submit a manuscript" from the selection offered at the left side of the screen. This will take you directly to the author portal. You will then be asked for your user name and password, at which time you will need to establish an account (there is a help button to assist you with the set-up). All submissions, resubmissions, and communications with the Journal are to be processed through this site.
- Q What format is acceptable for submission?
- A MS Word or Word Perfect are acceptable for the text. Acceptable graphics files are tif or eps.
- Q I am not sure I successfully submitted my manuscript. How do I confirm this?
- A If you successfully completed the submission, you will receive a confirmation on your screen at the time of submission. This will include a manuscript number. The number will appear in this format style: MM-0000-00.
You may also sign into your author account to see if the manuscript appears in your inbox.
- Q My manuscript is still in the QC stage. What is the problem?
- A There are a number of behind the scene steps involved at each level of the process, so it may appear that your manuscript is not moving, but in fact it is progressing though the system.
Authors
- Q I received an email from the Editor requesting that I modify my manuscript. What do I do next?
- A Please read all the information in the email. This will provide you with the reviewers' suggestions as well as the time frames you have to complete your modifications. You will need to upload the entire manuscript again through your author account. Make sure that you review your initial author questionnaire to make sure all the information is still correct. Provide a new cover letter in the section for the cover letter. Respond to each of the reviewers' recommendations in the "Rebuttals Box". If you do not agree with a reviewer's recommendation and have not made those changes, please note why no changes were made. The reviewer will be unable to access the list of changes you make if you do not use the "Rebuttals Box" to record them. Make sure all your tables, figures, photos, etc. are placed one to a page, and numbered so they are easily identified.
- Q I received an email requesting modifications and the reviewer provided comments in a PDF. How to I get access to that?
- A When you log into your author account there is a blue button, "Download Reviewer Comments." Please do so and you will have access to the uploaded files. Make sure you copy/save them to your computer and/or print them out because they will only be available once through your account.
- Q If I receive an email indicating my manuscript needs modification or rewriting, what chances do I have of my manuscript eventually being accepted.
- A Generally, this means that your manuscript has a good chance of being accepted with the changes requested. That being the case, it would be a very good time for you to obtain the publication documents (available through the website) and to get all the necessary signatures and fax or email them to the journal office. Having these documents at the time that your manuscript is accepted will greatly reduce the time from acceptance to seeing your article in print.
- Q What if the contributing authors have left the area?
- A The Journal office will accept signatures on separate publication documents.
- Q How would I know if all the authors have provided their signatures?
- A If there is more than one author, it would be advisable for the author identified as the "contact author" to collect all the necessary signatures and fax or email them as a package to the Journal office.
- Q I received a letter indicating my manuscript was accepted with format changes requested. What does this mean?
- A There is a content and a format side to each manuscript. While the content may be acceptable, your manuscript may not be in a format that is conducive to printing. In the letter you receive you will get a list of requested changes. The sooner the changes are made and submitted through your author account the sooner your manuscript will be sent to the printer and published.
Reviewers
- Q If I am a first time reviewer and want to accept/decline an invitation to review a manuscript, what do I need to do?
- A Click on the link that is provided in the invitation then sign in with your user name and password (if you do not remember, there is a "cannot remember my password" button and it will be sent to you via email). Once you are signed in, click on the manuscript title and select the button "I accept" or "I decline" as is your preference. Then follow the on-screen directions.
- Q What if the information in my reviewer account needs to be changed?
- A You have control over your account information. Once you sign into your account, use the radio buttons on left side of your screen to access the information you would like to update.
- Q What if I am unavailable for reviews?
- A You have control over your schedule. Sign into your account and select the "My Schedule" radio button to provide information on your availability for reviewing manuscripts.