BMC Health Services Research is an open access, peer-reviewed journal that considers articles on all aspects of health services research. The journal has a special focus on digital health, governance, health policy, health system quality and safety, healthcare delivery and access to healthcare, healthcare financing and economics, implementing reform, and the health workforce.
 

BMC Health Services Research does not make editorial decisions on the basis of the interest of a study or its likely impact. Studies must be scientifically valid; for research articles this includes a scientifically sound research question, the use of suitable methods and analysis, and following community-agreed standards relevant to the research field.

Health services research is a unique and multidisciplinary field of research that examines how different factors, behaviors, and technologies impact population’s access to healthcare, and the quality and cost of the care they receive.

BMC Health Services Research welcomes submissions covering the following broad areas of research. 

Designing and implementing health system reform
We consider implementation science research examining the methods, trialing, and uptake of research into routine healthcare settings for the benefit of patient health. We also consider research promoting healthcare reforms and the de-implementation of low-value care. Submissions that include public and patient involvement (PPI) or co-production in the research process are particularly encouraged. 

eHealth, mHealth and informatics
We consider all aspects of research relating to the development, trialing, adoption, and implementation of digital health and information technologies, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and mobile health-based innovations in health service management, planning, and delivery of care.

Health policy, politics and power
We consider all aspects of research concerning the decisions, plans, and actions that are undertaken to achieve specific healthcare goals in society. We also consider studies on pharmaceutical policy, legislation, guidelines, and regulations that impact health systems, services, and movements towards universal health coverage.

Health system quality and safety
We consider all aspects of research concerning the review, monitoring, evaluation, communication, and achievement of high-level health system goals based on health system strategies. We also encourage submissions evidencing improvement and innovation to advance the quality and safety of patient care at the health system and service level. Studies examining the perspectives of health systems, health care providers, service users, and caregivers are also considered. 

Please note that studies concerning clinical knowledge, practice, clinical decision-making, and measurement of clinical outcomes, should be directed to the relevant BMC Series medical journal. 

Healthcare delivery and access to healthcare
We consider all aspects of research relating to the organization of people, institutions, and resources to deliver health care services to meet the healthcare needs of the population. We particularly encourage submissions reporting studies supporting universal health coverage and healthcare equity. Geospatial and epidemiological studies related to healthcare delivery and access to healthcare are also considered.

Healthcare financing and economics
We consider all aspects of research relating to the mobilization, accumulation, and allocation of money to finance the healthcare needs of people, individually and as a population. We also consider studies looking at the various models for financing healthcare, such as private insurance, out-of-pocket expenses, social health insurance schemes, and taxation. We also consider economic evaluations of health policies, interventions, pharmaceuticals, and services. 

Please note that the journal does not consider research focused on increasing for-profit healthcare revenue. For example, monetizing healthcare or personal health data, or marketing for-profit healthcare, including health and insurance products. 

Healthcare governance and management
We consider all aspects of research aiming to inform best practice and continuous improvement for commissioners, decision-makers, and managers, for the benefit of service users and their carers. We also consider studies focused on risk assessments, upholding healthcare standards, incident management and reporting, and auditing.

The health workforce
We consider all aspects of health workforce research including planning, resourcing, and staffing, assessment of healthcare staff attitudes and behaviors, and occupational wellbeing of healthcare staff.  We also consider studies examining demographics and diversity, the health professional job market, methods to improve wellbeing, motivation, and productivity, and health workforce migration studies. 

Please note that studies concerning the clinical knowledge, practice, and decision-making of health professionals, should be directed to the relevant BMC Series medical journal.

Research article
Technical advance article
Database article
Software article
Study protocol
Review

Editor 
Tillie Cryer, BMC, UK 
Manuscript Editor 
Doris Cuckovic, BMC, UK 
Assistant Editor
James Edwards, BMC, UK
Section Editors
Onyebuchi A Arah, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Dina Balabanova, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Stefano Bonacina, Karolinska Institutet
Kostuv Dalal, Örebro University
Hengjin Dong, Zhejiang University School of Medicine
Michael Donnelly, Queen's University Belfast
Marie-Pierre Gagnon, Laval University
David Hotchkiss, Tulane University
Holly Lanham, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
Evelina Pappa, Hellenic Open University
Milena Pavlova, Maastricht University
Antoni Plasencia, ISGlobal Barcelona Institute for Global Health
Fabrizio Tediosi, University of Basel
Kaspar Wyss, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute