Heart Rhythm O2: Bringing up-to-date heart rhythm science and information to anyone, anywhere (original) (raw)
Welcome to Heart Rhythm O 2 (HRO2), the newest open access and online journal from the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS)! HRO2 provides an opportunity to publish articles of original science that advance the field of electrophysiology. Our goal is to offer a repository for clinically relevant, cutting edge, innovative science, available to anyone, anywhere, online. As the Editor-in-Chief, I lead a team of international editorial board members who are experts in the breadth of clinical, basic, and translational science in electrophysiology. Together, we are committed to ensuring the highest quality of impactful publications.
Though not a new concept, open access has recently been embraced as a companion to subscription-based publication. With HRO2_,_ we join in this endeavor to bring electrophysiology science rapidly online to all viewers without restriction. We will meet the changing way in which physicians want to learn and receive information, one that reflects social media communication and the desire to receive summary content in ways that engage busy health care providers. In addition to accessing the full complement of articles with each online issue, we encourage our readers to listen to the monthly editor podcasts, which summarize the published articles, and to follow our social media conversations.
Original Clinical and Experimental Research Articles are the foundation of great journals. We are seeking submissions that provide incremental and/or novel information based on solid scientific methodology that supports the objective of the study. We encourage young scientists to consider HRO2, as you will be the next generation of electrophysiologists who shape the future of electrophysiology, improving the lives and outcomes of patients with heart rhythm disorders.
We also invite you to submit your Design Papers. These articles are critical to the scientific endeavor and too often are ignored by readers. Yet, they contain the critical summary of background material that supports the need for clinical trials as well as a detailed description of the methods planned and the anticipated impact of trial outcomes. We encourage investigators planning randomized clinical trials and large registry studies to design trials for sex, geographic, racial, and ethnic-specific outcomes, as much as applicable. Only in this way can we be assured that we are providing the best care to all patients.
We also will be publishing Topics in Review. These comprehensive review articles will focus broadly on clinically relevant themes, such as basic science, innovative technology, epidemiology, summaries of clinical trials, management of arrhythmia syndromes, procedure-based therapies, and articles that address the changing landscape of patient care in this digital age. Review articles both summarize what is known and identify that which either is not known or is incompletely understood, thus helping to direct future investigations leading to evidence-based therapy.
Medical care is often called an “art.” The wealth of randomized clinical trial data in electrophysiology, dealing with some of the most important cardiovascular public health diseases, has led to expert consensus documents and guideline-based recommendations. Nevertheless, each patient is unique and requires individual consideration. Our Perspectives in Contrast article is the perfect opportunity to showcase different approaches to patient management. Here, we will have experts in the field discuss their contrasting perspectives, providing both text summaries and video images when applicable. We hope these articles will generate lively discussions among our readers using social media platforms!
As we develop the Journal, we will publish additional categories of articles to include Images in Electrophysiology, Brief Reports, and an Early Career Page. We believe it is important to provide a breadth of educational offerings. Images are perfect for that interesting finding in the electrophysiology laboratory, that difficult-to-interpret device electrogram, or that perplexing ECG. Brief reports are intended to provide a “space” for novel technology or pilot phase investigations that are not yet ready for a full clinical study but are important to have available for peer review. We believe that individuals early in their careers, whether their primary focus is basic or clinical academic, private clinical practice, or the development of novel technology, face unique contemporary challenges. This will be their opportunity to publish short articles that cover topics such as the transition from fellowship to career, mentorship, leadership training, and opportunities for networking.
I am privileged to have been engaged in the community of electrophysiology for the past 30 years. During this time, I have witnessed remarkable advances in our understanding of arrhythmia mechanisms, the development of catheter-based therapy approaches, and the development of implantable devices. The dedication of so many physicians, scientists, industry partners, and members of the health care team, including our dedicated nurses, advanced practice providers, technicians, and staff, has certainly increased survival and improved quality of life for our patients.
In our fast-paced world with its rapidly changing environment of health care delivery, with the uncertainties of global political, economic, and social change, and with challenges around every corner that sometimes seem designed only to make our jobs more difficult, we cannot lose sight of why we are here, doing what we do, every day. The HRS provides a broad platform of journals targeted to all health care providers, scientists, and those supporting the health care systems and institutions in which we care for patients. HRO2 is committed to the overall HRS mission, “to improve the care of patients by promoting research, education, and optimal health care policies and standards.”
Jeanne E. Poole, MD, FHRS
Jeanne E. Poole, MD, FHRS
Editor-in-Chief, Heart Rhythm O2