Health Services Management Research (HSMR) is an authoritative international peer-reviewed journal which publishes theoretically and empirically rigorous research on questions of enduring interest to health-care organizations and systems throughout the world. Examining the real issues confronting health services management, it provides an independent view and cutting edge evidence-based research to guide policy-making and management decision-making. HSMR aims to be a forum serving an international community of academics and researchers on the one hand and healthcare managers, executives, policymakers and clinicians and all health professionals on the other. HSMR wants to make a substantial contribution to both research and managerial practice, with particular emphasis placed on publishing studies which offer actionable findings and on promoting knowledge mobilisation toward theoretical advances. All papers are expected to be of interest and relevance to an international audience. HSMR aims at enhance communication between academics and practitioners concerned with developing, implementing, and analysing health management issues, reforms and innovations primarily in European health systems and in all countries with developed health systems. Papers can report research undertaken in a single country, but they need to locate and explain their findings in an international context, and in international literature.