Medical Review Standards & Transparency

Page Purpose

This page outlines our comprehensive medical review process, ensuring all health-related content meets the highest standards of accuracy, currency, and clinical relevance. Medical review exists to protect readers by providing expert clinical oversight of health information that could impact medical decisions, treatment choices, or health outcomes.

Medical Content Scope

What Qualifies for Medical Review:

• Information about medical conditions, symptoms, and diagnoses
• Treatment options, medications, and therapeutic interventions
• Mental health conditions and psychiatric treatments
• Drug interactions, side effects, and safety considerations
• Clinical research findings and evidence-based recommendations

What’s Excluded from Medical Review:

• General wellness and lifestyle content
• Personal experience stories and testimonials
• Administrative healthcare topics (insurance, billing)
• Historical or biographical medical content

About Our Medical Reviewer

Our content is reviewed by a board-certified psychiatrist and pharmacologist with extensive experience in both clinical practice and academic research. This dual expertise ensures our mental health content reflects both real-world clinical application and cutting-edge scientific understanding.

Professional Background:

• Board-certified in psychiatry with active medical licensure
• Advanced training in clinical pharmacology and neuropsychiatric therapeutics
• Active contributor to major academic medical centers
• Over a decade of specialized experience in treatment-resistant psychiatric conditions

Research Expertise:

• Principal and co-investigator on multiple Phase II and III clinical trials
• Specialized focus on novel neuropsychiatric therapies, including ketamine and esketamine protocols
• Extensive experience with treatment-resistant depression, suicidality, and bipolar disorder research

Scientific Contributions:

• Published researcher in prominent U.S. and international psychiatric and neuropharmacology journals
• Expert in alternative drug administration routes and advanced formulation development
• Utilizes sophisticated neuroimaging techniques (fMRI, EEG) to assess treatment mechanisms
• Investigator of racemic compounds and metabolite forms for enhanced therapeutic outcomes

Clinical Philosophy:

Our reviewer maintains an evidence-based approach to medical content, ensuring all information reflects current best practices while acknowledging areas of ongoing research and clinical uncertainty. Their unique combination of laboratory research experience and direct patient care provides comprehensive perspective on both emerging treatments and established therapeutic approaches.

Continuing Education:

• Maintains required continuing medical education credits annually
• Active participation in professional psychiatric and pharmacological conferences
• Ongoing involvement in clinical research and academic collaboration
• Regular review of emerging literature and treatment guidelines

Reviewer Anonymity Rationale

Our medical reviewer has chosen to remain anonymous by prior mutual agreement to maintain complete independence and avoid any potential conflicts of interest. This approach ensures:

• Unbiased review free from institutional or personal promotional considerations
• Protection from external pressure regarding specific medical opinions
• Focus on content quality rather than reviewer recognition
• Consistent application of review standards across all content

The reviewer’s credentials and qualifications have been independently verified through private documentation review, including board certification verification, active licensure confirmation, and academic publication validation.

Independence & Funding Disclosure

This website is independently operated. We maintain strict editorial independence with no paid endorsements, sponsored medical content, or compensation tied to specific medical recommendations. Our medical reviewer receives no compensation from pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, or treatment facilities mentioned in our content.

Conflict of Interest Statement

Our medical reviewer has no financial relationships, consulting agreements, research funding, or other material conflicts of interest with any vendors, manufacturers, treatment facilities, or pharmaceutical companies mentioned in reviewed content. Any potential conflicts are disclosed and addressed before review participation.

Review Criteria

All medically reviewed content must meet these standards:

Accuracy:

Information must reflect current medical consensus and evidence-based guidelines from recognized professional organizations.

Currency:

Content must incorporate the most recent relevant research findings and clinical practice updates.

Balance:

Presentations of treatment options must fairly represent benefits, risks, limitations, and alternatives.

Clarity:

Medical information must be presented in plain language accessible to general audiences while maintaining clinical precision.

Evidence Standards & Source Hierarchy

Primary Sources (Highest Priority):

• Peer-reviewed clinical trials and systematic reviews
• Evidence-based treatment guidelines from professional medical organizations
• Government health agency recommendations (FDA, CDC, NIH)
• Cochrane reviews and meta-analyses

Secondary Sources:

• Reputable medical journals and publications
• Academic medical center clinical guidelines
• Professional society position statements

Conflicting Evidence Policy:

When research findings conflict, this site presents multiple perspectives while identifying the strength of evidence supporting each position. Uncertainty is explicitly acknowledged rather than presenting false certainty.

Review Workflow

1. Author Draft: Content writers create initial drafts using evidence-based sources
2. Clinical Review: Medical reviewer evaluates accuracy, completeness, and clinical appropriateness
3. Author Integration: Writers incorporate reviewer feedback and recommendations
4. Final Spot-Check: Reviewer confirms successful integration of clinical guidance
5. Publication: Content published with medical review designation and dating

Quality Assurance Measures

• Cross-referencing of medical claims against multiple authoritative sources
• Fact-checking protocols for statistical information and research citations
• Consistency verification across related content pieces
• Regular calibration of review standards and criteria

Dating Policy

Last Updated: Reflects most recent content modifications, including minor edits and formatting changes

Last Medically Reviewed: Indicates when clinical content was most recently evaluated by our medical reviewer

These dates may differ when non-medical updates (formatting, links, etc.) occur between medical review cycles.

Re-Review Schedule

Standard Cadence: All medically reviewed content undergoes re-review at least annually

Triggered Re-Review occurs when:

• Major clinical guidelines or treatment recommendations change
• FDA safety advisories or drug warnings are issued
• Significant new research findings emerge that impact content accuracy
• Material edits are made to medical information
• Validated user reports identify potential inaccuracies

Change Log & Versioning

We maintain detailed records of all substantive corrections and updates, including:

• Date of change
• Nature of modification
• Reason for update (new research, guideline change, etc.)
• Reviewer approval confirmation

Content Accuracy Metrics

We track and analyze:

• Correction rates and types of errors identified
• Frequency of content updates and re-reviews
• Source verification success rates
• User feedback integration statistics

De-labeling Policy

The “Medically Reviewed” designation is removed when:

• Content becomes outdated beyond clinical acceptability
• Material changes are made without proper re-review
• Original review standards are no longer met
• Reviewer determines content requires substantial revision

Editorial Oversight Structure

Our medical reviewer reports to Michael Alvear, the founder of ketaminetherapyfordepression.org with clear escalation procedures for content disputes or complex clinical questions. Final authority for medical content accuracy rests with the medical reviewer.

Feedback & Corrections

User Reports: Users can report potential inaccuracies or outdated information here

Response Timeline:

• Acknowledgment within 48 hours
• Initial evaluation within 5 business days
• Implementation of validated corrections within 10 business days

Feedback Integration: All valid corrections are immediately implemented and documented in our change log, with appropriate re-review conducted as needed.

Accessibility Standards

• Reading Level: Content targeted at 8th-10th grade reading level for general accessibility
• Plain Language: Medical terminology explained in accessible terms with glossary support
• Visual Accessibility: Full compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA standards including screen reader compatibility
• Terminology Support: Hover-over definitions and linked glossary for technical medical terms

Multi-Format Accessibility

Content designed for optimal access across:

• Desktop and mobile devices
• Screen readers and assistive technologies
• Various learning styles through visual aids and clear formatting
• Multiple language comprehension levels

Safety Disclaimers & Limitations

Educational Purpose: All content is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute personal medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations.

Professional Care Requirement: Readers are advised to consult qualified healthcare providers for individual medical questions, treatment decisions, and health concerns.

Scope Limitations: Content cannot address individual medical circumstances, drug interactions specific to personal medication regimens, or complex medical conditions requiring specialized evaluation.

Crisis & Emergency Direction

Immediate Danger:

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911

Mental Health Crisis:

Contact 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988) or chat at 988lifeline.org

Substance Use Emergency:

Contact local emergency services or poison control 1-800-222-1222

On-Page Labeling Standards

• Medical Review Badge: “Medically reviewed by a board-certified psychiatrist” appears prominently on all reviewed content
• Date Display: Both “Last Updated” and “Last Medically Reviewed” dates clearly visible
• Visual Consistency: Standardized badge placement, formatting, and language across all reviewed content
• Quality Indicators: Clear visual distinction between medically reviewed and general content

Internal Documentation Requirements

Private records maintained include:

• Complete audit trail of all reviews and approvals
• Reviewer sign-off documentation with dates
• Change authorization records
• Quality assurance check confirmations
• Conflict of interest certifications

Governance Framework

• Update Approval: Material changes to medical content require medical reviewer approval before publication
• Re-review Triggers: Automatic re-review required for guideline changes, safety updates, or significant content modifications
• Override Procedures: Clear escalation path for content disputes or emergency updates

Date Management Policy

“Last Updated” Advances when:

• Any content modification occurs
• Links are updated or added
• Formatting changes are made

Batch Processing: Minor corrections may be batched and processed during regular review cycles rather than triggering immediate date changes

Badge Removal & Restoration

Removal Triggers:

• Content becomes clinically outdated
• Material changes made without re-review
• Reviewer determines standards no longer met

Restoration Process:

• Complete re-review and approval
• Documentation of corrections made
• Verification of current clinical standards compliance

Professional Verification Process

Our reviewer’s credentials are independently confirmed through:

• State medical board licensure verification
• Board certification confirmation
• Academic publication authentication
• Professional reference validation

All verification documentation is maintained confidentially and updated annually.

Continuing Education & Currency

Our reviewer maintains clinical currency through:

• Required continuing medical education completion
• Active participation in professional conferences
• Ongoing research involvement and publication
• Regular review of emerging treatment literature

Geographic & Jurisdictional Considerations

• Licensure Jurisdiction: Our reviewer maintains active licensure in Pennsylvania
• Content Applicability: Information primarily reflects U.S. medical standards and FDA-approved treatments
• International Readers: Non-U.S. readers advised that treatment availability and guidelines may vary by country

Cultural & Diversity Considerations

Our review process acknowledges:

• Diverse patient populations and cultural factors affecting treatment
• Varying responses to medications across different demographic groups
• Accessibility considerations for underserved communities
• Language and cultural barriers to healthcare access

Technology & Security Measures

• Data Protection: All reviewer communications and documentation protected through encrypted systems
• Access Controls: Restricted access to review materials and internal documentation
• Backup Systems: Redundant storage of critical review documentation and approval records

Performance Metrics & Annual Reporting

We track and report annually on:

• Number of articles reviewed and re-reviewed
• Average time from draft to published reviewed content
• User feedback response rates and correction implementation
• Content accuracy metrics and improvement measures

Legal & Regulatory Compliance

Our medical review process complies with:

• FTC guidelines for health-related advertising and content
• FDA regulations regarding medical information presentation
• Professional medical ethics standards
• State medical practice regulations

Third-Party Validation

While maintaining reviewer anonymity, our process undergoes:

• Annual internal audit procedures
• External consultation on review methodology
• Periodic calibration with industry best practices
• Continuous improvement based on user feedback and outcomes

Contact Information

Process Questions: For questions about our medical review methodology click here

Content Corrections: To report potential inaccuracies click here

General Inquiries: For other editorial questions click here