Writers' Guidelines

For The Record welcomes contributions from those "in the trenches." Our best source of information is you—the practicing department directors, managers, supervisors, coders, transcriptionists, educators, students, and consultants. For The Record provides a forum in which you can share your expertise with HIM professionals nationwide. For The Record welcomes lively, timely, and engaging feature articles and columns covering the entire range of issues pertaining to the HIM profession.

Professionals are invited to submit proposals or completed manuscripts for the following:

• Workplace and business issues
• Legislative issues
• New or innovative educational programs
• Profiles of HIM professionals using innovative techniques or creative problem-solving strategies
• Equipment and technology

Any aspect of professional practices pertinent to coding and reimbursement, quality assurance, transcription, cancer registries, management, legislation, information systems, confidentiality, and security are encouraged. Also welcomed are shorter articles (1,000 to 1,200 words) for use in these departments:

Government Brief: Items on all aspects of healthcare policy, state and federal legislative activity, and government-supported research centers

Evolving Education: New or innovative programs, special activities, and trends in education

Coding Corner: Spotlights everything from how to code certain conditions to the latest trends in the business

Technology Trends: Items concerning hardware, software packages, and new trends in technology

On the Case: Real-life stories illustrate organizations solved a particular problem area.

Transcription Trends: Experts comment on changes and developments within the industry

Query, Abstract, or Outline Submission
A one-page query, abstract, or outline of your story idea is preferred. Please e-mail your proposal to the editor at edit@gvpub.com or mail it to Editor, For The Record, 3801 Schuylkill Road., Spring City, PA 19475. A query, abstract, or outline will be read only if it includes the author's full first and last name; credentials, academic degree, title, and affiliation (if any); postal address; daytime telephone number; and e-mail address. (Information is for verification, not for publication.)

Manuscript Submission
Send manuscripts via e-mail as Microsoft Word attachments. A manuscript will be considered only if it includes the author's full first and last name; credentials, academic degree, title, and affiliation (if any); postal address; daytime telephone number; e-mail address; and Social Security number. (Information is for verification, not for publication.) If there is more than one author, provide information for each contributor and designate one author to handle correspondence. Include a signed statement that the manuscript is original, has not been published elsewhere, and is not under consideration by any other publication or electronic medium. Also include a brief author biography.

Length
Feature stories typically run from 2,000 to 2,200 words, and shorter department pieces typically run from 1,000 to 1,200 words.

References
Information from other published works should be completely and accurately referenced in the order in which it is cited in the text. List references in numerical order according to the American Medical Association Manual of Style. Do NOT list references that are not cited in the text. Provide a list of individuals interviewed for the article and include the interviewees' full first and last names; credentials, academic degrees, titles, and affiliations (if any); postal addresses; daytime telephone numbers; and e-mail addresses. (Information is for verification, not for publication.)

Artwork
Submission of photographs, charts, tables, and other graphics is encouraged. Images can be mailed to the editor or sent electronically as JPEG, TIFF, PDF, or EPS files. Images must be 300 dpi (dots per inch) and a minimum of 4 inches by 5 inches. Please submit any art or other graphics along with a statement of originality. If the art has been previously published or is based on previously published material, written permission from the copyright holder to reproduce or adapt the art must be submitted. All photos, tables, and other graphics should be clearly labeled and captioned. Tables should be numbered in order of citation in the article.

Author Responsibilities
Authors are solely responsible for the content of articles submitted. The magazine accepts no responsibility for inaccuracies in manuscripts or references. It is the author's responsibility to notify the magazine of any potential conflicts of interest with respect to submitted articles and to acknowledge affiliation with any organization or entity mentioned in the text and/or financial interest in any subject matter, organization, or product discussed.

Editing
While the editors will attempt to preserve the author's voice whenever possible, all accepted manuscripts or letters to the editor will be edited for space and clarity according to the magazine's style and format.