Terms of Use

ASN Policy on Endorsements

Introduction

The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) "leads the fight to prevent, treat, and cure kidney diseases throughout the world by educating health professionals and scientists, advancing research and innovation, communicating new knowledge, and advocating for the highest quality care for patients." To help fulfill this mission, ASN occasionally participates in the development, and considers endorsement of, new guidelines, practice recommendations, position paper, or statements that advance the field of nephrology and align with the society's strategic plan.

Principles

ASN will consider endorsement of new guidelines, practice recommendations, position papers or statements when they:

• Demonstrate relevance to a goal in ASN's Strategic Plan.
• Involve a qualified ASN member as an official society liaison in every step of development from its inception.
• Receive a recommendation for endorsement from an existing ASN Committee or ASN Community Leader with expertise in the subject matter.

The ASN Council will consider the request for endorsement and make a final decision to endorse or not to endorse. Should the council determine not to endorse, the entity that developed the product will be provided with an explanation for that choice. At any stage in the following processes, ASN reserves the right to decline to endorse a product.

There are three potential paths for the request for ASN participation and endorsement to be considered, described in detail below.

Process for Submitting a Request for ASN Participation

ASN must approve the society's participation and identify an official society liaison to represent ASN in the development of the new guideline, practice recommendation, position paper or statement before work on it commences. Entities planning to develop such a product may approach an ASN Committee or the leaders of an ASN Online Community to request that ASN consider participation and appoint an official society liaison.

Requesters should:

1. Determine if the subject of the project for which endorsement would be sought falls under the charge of a ASN Committee. If so:
   1. Submit an overview of the project and request for an official society liaison to the staff liaison to the committee.
   2. The committee chair will determine whether or not to name an official liaison to work on the proposal.
2. If the subject of the endorsement request does not fall under an existing ASN committee's charge, determine if the subject falls under the scope of a relevant ASN Online Community. If so:
   1. Submit an overview of the project and a request for a society liaison to the Community Leadership.
   2. Community Leaders will determine whether or not to name an official liaison to work on the proposal.
3. If the subject area of an endorsement proposal is not relevant to an ASN committee or an ASN Online Community:
   1. Submit overview of the project and a request for a society liaison to the ASN Online Communities staff (for referral to the ASN Media and Communications Committee).
   2. The Chair of the ASN Media and Communications Committee will determine whether or not to name an official liaison to the project.

The assignment of an official liaison does not guarantee that the endorsement proposal will be approved by ASN Council.

Process for Consideration of Endorsement Requests

When the new guideline, practice recommendation, position paper, or statement that was developed with input from the official ASN liaison is ready for consideration for endorsement, the product will follow one of the three following paths, depending on which ASN entity (ASN Committee; ASN Online Communities; or ASN Media and Communications Committee) considered the original request for the society's participation.

Path 1: Request for ASN endorsement via an ASN Committee

1. Review by staff liaison of the relevant committee and referral to Committee Chair.
2. Determination by Committee Chair for inclusion on the Committee's agenda and consideration by the Committee resulting in:
   1. Decline to endorse or
   2. Recommend to endorse and refer to ASN Council.
3. Decision from ASN Council to endorse or not endorse.

Path 2: Request for ASN endorsement via an ASN Community

1. Review by ASN Online Communities staff and referral to relevant Community Leadership.
2. Consideration by ASN Community Leadership resulting in:
   1. Decline to endorse or
   2. Recommend to endorse and refer to ASN Council.
3. Decision from ASN Council to endorse or not endorse.

Path 3: Request for ASN endorsement via the ASN Media and Communications Committee

1. Review by ASN Media and Communications Committee staff liaison and referral to Committee Chair.
2. Determination by ASN Media and Communications Committee Chair for inclusion on the Committee's agenda and consideration by Committee resulting in:
   1. Decline to endorse or
   2. Recommend to endorse and refer to ASN Council.
3. Decision from ASN Council to endorse or not endorse.

Endorsement by ASN does not guarantee that society's logo will be made available for use by the developer of the new guideline, practice recommendation, position paper, or statement.