Publication Policy Home › HealthPolicy › EmergingTechnology › PublicationPolicy

  1. Manuscript Preparation
    • Task Group Leaders (TGLs) will, unless otherwise directed by the ETC Co-chairs, be responsible for manuscript preparation and completing the report in a timely fashion.
    • TGLs will prepare and deliver manuscripts to the ETC Co-chairs.
  2. Authorship
    • The assigned TGLs, unless otherwise directed by the ETC Co-chairs, will be first author(s) of the report.
    • Task Group members are expected to make significant contribution to report preparation and will, unless otherwise specified by the ETC Co-chairs, be listed as co-authors.
    • The ETC Co-chairs will be expected to participate in report preparation and editing and will be listed as co-authors.
    • In specific circumstances, and based on agreement between the TGLs and ETC co-Chairs, individuals, not included in the Task Group, and who make significant contributions in the evaluation of the technology and in the report preparation, may be included as co-authors.
    • Upon report completion and submission to the ETC, the ETC may request significant review and editing/revision.  Members of the ETC who participate in substantive and/or editorial revisions will be included as authors.
    • Determination of authorship listing and order will ultimately be within the authority and discretion of the ETC.
  3. Approval
    • Final acceptance, approval and circulation of any ETC report will reside with the Board, unless and until the Board delegates this authority to the ETC. Once approved by the BOD, the ETC may disseminate and/or publish the report. 
  4. Disclaimers and Notifications
    • Documents submitted to any venue for publication, presentation, or policy consideration, will state: This document was prepared for the Emerging Technology Committee of the American Society for Radiation Oncology.
    • Final reports and reports presented to the Board will carry the following disclosure and notification statements:

      • Prior to initiation of this evaluation project, all members of the Emerging Technology Committee (ETC) and of the Task Group performing the evaluation were required to complete Conflict of Interest statements specifically related to the devices or procedures involved.  These statements are maintained in the file at ASTRO Headquarters in Fairfax, VA and pertinent conflict information will be published with the report. Individuals with disqualifying conflicts are recused from participation in ASTRO emerging technology assessments. 

      • The primary role of the ETC is to provide technology assessments regarding emerging technologies to various stakeholders within and outside the Society.  It is not the role of the Committee to develop or defend code definitions, valuation recommendations, or other payment policy development functions.

      • ASTRO Emerging Technology Reports present scientific, health and safety information and may to some extent reflect scientific or medical opinion.  They are made available to ASTRO members and to the public for educational and informational purposes only.  Any commercial use of any content in this report without the prior written consent of ASTRO is strictly prohibited.

      • ASTRO does not make or imply any warranties concerning the safety or clinical efficacy of the devices reviewed in this report.  ASTRO assumes no liability for the information, conclusions, and findings contained in its Emerging Technology Reports.

      • This Report is subject to the ASTRO copyright restrictions.

      • ASTRO considers any consideration of its technology assessment reports to be voluntary, with the ultimate determination regarding any technology's application to be made by the practitioner, in consultation with the patient, in light of each patient's individual circumstances in accordance with applicable law.  Decisions regarding coverage of a technology, device or procedure are made by payors and government agencies in accordance with applicable legal standards and their decision-making processes.  In addition, this technology assessment describes the use of devices or procedures; it cannot be assumed to apply to the use of these interventions performed in the context of clinical trials, given that clinical studies are designed to evaluate or validate innovative approaches in a disease for which improved staging and treatment are needed or are being explored.  In that assessment development involve a review and synthesis of the latest literature, a technology assessment also serves to identify important questions and settings for further research. 
  5. Submission and Dissemination of Report

    • Circulation of reports outside of the ETC, for internal ASTRO use, or submission for publication and/or presentation may be undertaken, once a report is approved by the Board or its delegee.

    • Venue for publication and/or presentation will be at the discretion and direction of the ETC, unless directed otherwise by the Board. 

      Promotion or marketing of reports is at the discretion of the Board or its delegee.

  6. Policy availability
    • The various policies and procedures of the ETC will be available on the ETC portion of the ASTRO Web site and will be provided to the TGLs and its members prior to initiation of an assigned project