Editorial Policy

All information on this American Specialty Health Web site is of a general nature and is intended for educational purposes only. The information on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the diagnosis and advice of your health care professional. The information available on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care for the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of health problems. You should consult with your personal physician or pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter drugs (including any herbal medicines or supplements) or following any treatment or regimen. Only your personal physician or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for you. Nothing on this Web site is to be interpreted as advocating the self-management of your health and medical condition(s) or those of your family.

Health content contained on this Web site is researched, authored, or reviewed by (a) qualified person(s) prior to posting and a minimum of annually thereafter. Individual writers must hold a current license or certification appropriate to the health content they are writing. A team of professionals may write and/or edit health content. Individual writers of health content that is not disease related in nature such as an article about yoga must have significant experience related to the subject. Significant experience would include teaching experience, formal classroom/seminar educational series, or several years of personal practice and study. All content is evaluated and edited for compliance with established company guidelines and criteria. The credentials of these writers are verified on a regular basis. Authors, consultants and staff are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest. Conflicts of interest are defined as any employment, contracting or other affiliation with any entity that sells or offers same or similar information and/or products. Additionally, authors will not be asked to provide services or information that conflict with the health professional's adherence to professional ethical principles.

Clinical guidelines that define appropriate clinical information shall be evidence-based. Evidence-based criteria, as defined here, include documented clinical concepts, rules, practices, procedures, outcomes and rationale approved by internal clinical quality oversight committees. These guidelines are reviewed a minimum of annually for appropriateness and accuracy; updates are completed throughout the year as evidence is available. This editorial review process is followed for all health information contained on this Web site.

For information regarding the health care professionals that assist in the review and authoring of clinical information on this Web site, please see Editorial Staff Bios