Why should you trust what you read at Hsrmethods?

That’s a very fair question, and the fact that you thought to ask it means that you know that not all information is created equal. Our editorial staff is made up of writers and editors who have extensive knowledge in their respective medical fields.

Editorial Process

It’s about our process as much as our people

• Once an article is written, it is reviewed and revised by a team of editors.
• Articles are edited to make sure that they cover the important points a reader needs to know, are written in an engaging way, and are fair, making clear not only what is known about a topic but also what may still be in dispute.
• They are fact-checked according to a 14-point checklist to ensure that we have not only captured the big picture of a topic but also verified all the details.

Making sure it stays right

We are continuously updating and revising our content. 

• When news happens, the relevant articles are updated by our staff editors or supplemented by a feed from our news partners. Our goal is to go deeper than the who, what, and when of a news event. We want Hsrmethods to be the authoritative source for the context and history you need: the why and the how.
• When we hear from readers about possible mistakes, we investigate and, when necessary, correct. (Mistakes happen, even with a highly exacting process. We are human, after all.) If you have feedback, let us know at [email protected] or by clicking on the feedback button that appears on articles.

Trust, but verify

If after reading all this, you’re still not sure about our process, know that we make it transparent to readers and users how, why, and when we revise articles. Just click on Article History in any article to see what has been done—from adding media to fixing the way an article appears on your phone to updating for developments and more.

• Our health information is reviewed for medical accuracy by medical experts. Our Medical Network is composed of healthcare professionals from research institutions, professional organizations, and private practice with varied and extensive expertise in their respective fields. Along with their knowledge in a variety of medical specialties, our medical reviewers bring an added perspective thanks to their experience in clinical practice, research, and patient advocacy.
• Consumer drug information content is created by skilled medical editors. Our consumer drug information content is created by a team of skilled medical editors working with PharmD writers and Medical Reviewers. These experts are focused on answering your questions and know how to present complicated pharmaceutical information clearly.

How we vet brands and products

In an effort to deliver content that helps readers gain a deeper understanding of their health, we occasionally partner with brands and recommend products in our content. Any product we recommend or brand we work with is thoroughly vetted by our team for medical credibility, good business practices, and social impact.

Our Brand and Content Integrity team researches the business practices of partner brands and evaluate their medical and health claims against the current body of scientific evidence.

Products chosen by our editorial teams go through a similar process to ensure brand integrity and product safety. Ultimately, this vetting process ensures that you’ll only see recommendations for products and companies that we stand behind.

Why we prioritize vetting at Hsrmethods

We care deeply about providing science-led, facts-first content that inspires you to seek new knowledge, ask questions, and take healthy actions. We feel a responsibility to our community to make sound recommendations that have been evaluated and approved by our team of medical experts.

Not only do these high standards have a positive impact on you and your health, but they also set a standard across the industry at large.

Sometimes, you may encounter a product or brand on our site that doesn’t meet our standards. If we share a brand or product that hasn’t passed vetting, we’ll be transparent about why, so that you can make an informed decision about the brand or product in question.

Our vetting process

Our editorial scoring process is based on (but not limited to) answers to the following questions:

• Are the health or medical claims made supported by the current body of scientific evidence?
• Does the brand adhere to industry best practices? Are they leading the industry in their business practices?
• Is there any third-party validation for the industry practices?
• Has the company been issued an FDA-warning letter?
• Are there any pending lawsuits or previous settlements related to class-action, fair employment practices, and or marketing practices?
• Does a product contain anything that has potential for interaction, allergies, and other harmful reactions when ingested?
• What are the ingredients/composition of the product? Do the ingredients and/or composition have the potential to cause harm?

We also consider the social impact of the companies we partner with. This is a purposeful initiative to highlight companies that are transparent about their diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives

We re-evaluate all brands that partner with us on a regular basis to ensure they continue to meet our criteria for quality, credibility, and integrity.

Simply, we do the legwork — backed by a team of experts — so you don’t have to. So that you can feel confident in the choices you make for your health and well-being.