Journal of the American College of Radiology

Journal of the American College of Radiology. It is the official peer-reviewed publication of the American College of Radiology, a prominent professional society representing the field of diagnostic radiology, radiation oncology, and related medical physics. First published in 2004, the journal serves as a critical forum for issues at the intersection of clinical practice, health policy, economics, and education within the imaging sciences. It is published monthly by Elsevier and is widely circulated among members of the American College of Radiology and the international medical community.

History and background

The journal was established in 2004 under the leadership of the American College of Radiology to address a growing need for a publication focused on the practical, administrative, and socio-economic aspects of radiological practice, complementing more technically oriented journals like *Radiology* and the American Journal of Roentgenology. Its founding editor-in-chief was Bruce J. Hillman, a noted researcher in health services research and radiology outcomes. The creation of the publication coincided with a period of rapid technological change in modalities like computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, alongside increasing scrutiny of healthcare costs and the implementation of policies such as the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. The journal's mission was shaped by seminal reports from the Institute of Medicine on improving healthcare quality and aimed to translate evidence into actionable guidance for practicing radiologists.

Scope and publication details

The journal's scope encompasses a broad range of topics essential to modern radiological practice, including clinical practice management, health policy, ethics, quality improvement, informatics, education, and the appropriate use of imaging guided by documents like the ACR Appropriateness Criteria. It regularly features original research articles, review articles, perspectives, and commentary on issues such as value-based care, patient safety, artificial intelligence in radiology, and medicolegal topics. Published monthly by Elsevier, the journal employs a hybrid open-access model and its content is hosted on the ScienceDirect platform. Special sections often address coding and reimbursement issues relevant to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and updates from the American Board of Radiology.

Abstracting, indexing, and impact

The journal is abstracted and indexed in major scientific databases including PubMed, MEDLINE, the Science Citation Index Expanded, and Scopus. According to the Journal Citation Reports, it had an impact factor of 4.333 for the 2022 release, reflecting its influence within the categories of Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging. This metric places it among significant clinical radiology journals and indicates its role in disseminating policy-relevant and practice-oriented research. Its indexing in services like Embase and Current Contents ensures wide visibility for its articles among clinicians, researchers, and policymakers in fields like oncology, cardiology, and neurology.

Editorial board and governance

The editor-in-chief is Ruth C. Carlos, a professor of radiology at the University of Michigan, who oversees the journal's scientific direction and editorial process. The editorial board comprises leading experts from institutions such as the Mayo Clinic, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Stanford University, representing diverse subspecialties including breast imaging, neuroradiology, and interventional radiology. Governance and strategic oversight are provided by the American College of Radiology, with the publication committee often involving past presidents of the college like Howard P. Forman and William T. Thorwarth Jr.. The board manages peer review and upholds publication ethics in alignment with guidelines from the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors.

Notable articles and special issues

The journal has published influential articles and reports that have shaped radiology practice and policy. Notable contributions include early analyses of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's impact on imaging, seminal papers on the integration of machine learning into clinical workflows, and the official white papers from the American College of Radiology on topics like contrast media safety and radiologist well-being. It frequently publishes special issues dedicated to consensus conferences, such as those on improving communication in radiology reports or addressing disparities in healthcare access. The journal also features the annual AuntMinnie award-winning articles and proceedings from major meetings like the Radiological Society of North America and the American Roentgen Ray Society.

Category:Medical journals Category:Radiology journals Category:Elsevier academic journals Category:Publications established in 2004 Category:Monthly journals