Guidelines for Selecting References for
the REMM Web Site

• REMM is designed to help healthcare providers find appropriate and trustworthy information about healthcare planning for and response to radiation emergencies.
• It provides access to information produced by government and non-governmental agencies as well as papers and monographs in the peer-reviewed literature.
• Below is a summary of how the information is selected consistent with the purpose of REMM.

Goals of the REMM Web Site

• Provide guidance for health care providers, primarily physicians, about clinical diagnosis and treatment of radiation injury during radiological and nuclear emergencies
• Provide just-in-time, evidence-based, usable information with sufficient background and context to make complex issues understandable to those without formal radiation medicine expertise
• Provide web-based information that is also downloadable in advance, so that it would be available during an emergency if the internet is not accessible

Source of Funding

• REMM is funded by HHS/ASPR.
• REMM consultants/experts are often asked to review proposed REMM content or edits. Their affiliations are listed on this site.

How References are Selected and Prioritized for REMM

Authority, Credibility, and Affiliation

• Emphasis is on U.S. federal and state government resources, major national (scientific societies, professional organizations, etc.), and international organizations (World Health Organization, etc.).
• Sponsorship of the site is clear. The credentials or qualifications of the sponsors, writers, or producers are provided.
• Sites produced by individuals are not included unless there is no other source of the information. The author's name, title, affiliation, and credentials must be provided.
• Focus is on non-commercial sites. If a commercial site is linked to it the following conditions need to be present:
  • Site makes an obvious distinction between material created for advertising and material created for information.
  • Most content must be available at no charge or be clearly labeled if charges apply.
  • The site's content or presentation should not cause a reasonable user to conclude that products or services are endorsed.

Content, Coverage, and Currency

• Sites are evaluated to make sure that high-quality information is provided, and that the information is from original sources, which are listed on the web site.
• The source for the contents of the Web page(s) and the identification of those responsible for maintaining the Web site (webmaster, organization, creator of the content) are clear.
• Information on the site is unique and not readily available elsewhere. There is a minimum of duplication and overlap between resources. For example: unique images or a glossary that are not found at other web sites.
• Information about when a page was created, revised, or last updated should be provided. REMM attempts to provide the most recent version of documents and monographs.

Point of View

• No conflicts of interest are apparent - example: advertising by a sponsor would be a conflict.

Intended Audience

• Intended audience is clear and materials are written at a level appropriate for healthcare providers and the audiences they serve.
• The primary purpose of the Web page is educational.

Access, Navigation, and Availability

• Site is consistently available and loads without problems.
• Links on the site are functional most of the time.
• Site is well-organized and users can move around the site easily.
• Registration, an account, or password is not required to access site information. If registration is requested, how that data is used is clearly stated.

Language

• An English language version of the Web site is available.