Our content development and publishing processes are designed to ensure that editorial accuracy, objectivity, independence, and integrity are upheld at all times. This Editorial Policy explains how our staff of in-house and commissioned writers, pharmacists, physicians and other healthcare professionals (hereinafter referred to as “Medical Information Staff”) selects and/or develops content for distribution through our Services.

Our policies and procedures are designed to ensure that our Medical Information Staff operates independently of outside influence, to bring content of the highest caliber and integrity to our members.

The Medical Information Staff creates or curates content that is accurate, current, unbiased, relevant, and essential to the needs of our members at the point of care. Epocrates Content may include third-party or licensed content chosen by Epocrates for publication.

Our Medical Information Staff is expected to meet the highest professional and ethical standards applicable to their licensures, roles and responsibilities in providing the Services. They make determinations about content, workflow, and publication based on their professional experience, clinical judgment and feedback from users of the Services.

Epocrates Content is created, developed, or curated by our Medical Information Staff. Sources for Epocrates Content include, but are not limited to, in-house generated drug information and proprietary content developed for our Infectious Disease Treatment Selector and Labs content. Additional content is curated from third-party sources, such as diseases information and medical calculators. We also publish content from government agencies (such as the FDA, CDC, and AHRQ) as well as from professional medical organizations. Epocrates reviews the content provided through the Services on a regular basis to ensure that we continue to provide content that is accurate, current, unbiased, relevant, and essential to our members at the point of care. Content provided through our Services is updated as necessary.

As an extension of Epocrates point-of-care clinical reference content, additional Epocrates content is created and curated to appeal to clinicians’ interest in clinical news, medical and scientific research, as well as informational and editorial content. This content may include communications about the practice of medicine, issues relevant to clinicians as individuals, and trends relevant to their treatment of patients. Sources for this content type include publicly available information from government agencies, medical journals, medical news platforms, medical professional organizations, clinical and scientific podcasts, as well as publications that feature medical news. Individuals internal and external to Epocrates contribute to such content through research, writing, editing, and review. Content of a clinical nature is reviewed by clinicians prior to publication. This type of Epocrates content also adheres to quality standards to ensure that it is accurate, current, unbiased, and relevant to readers.

Some content offered through our Services is sourced from, developed, by and/or provided at the direction of commercial entities. The Epocrates Medical Information Staff does not control the development of this content, and the Epocrates Content editorial review process is not applied. While members of the Epocrates Medical Information staff may consult on structure, concepts, and guidelines related to Commercial Content, they are not engaged in the creation, curation, or development of Commercial Content. For more information on how to identify Commercial Content within our Services and the standards for Commercial Content to be provided through our Services, please see the Epocrates Commercial Content Policy. The Services are designed to differentiate between Epocrates Content and Commercial Content for reader transparency.

Third-party logos and links to third-party websites may be included in the Services. Such inclusion is not intended to be an approval or recommendation by Epocrates. Please note that visiting any third-party website included in our Services that sets forth separate terms and conditions will be subject to those additional terms and conditions associated with such third-party website.

Editorial Policy Changes

This Editorial Policy is subject to change at any time, at Epocrates' sole discretion. If we make any changes to this Editorial Policy, we will change the "Last Updated" date below.

Editorial Policy Last Updated: December 15, 2023

Epocrates receives remuneration from third parties to display Commercial Content on mobile and web applications (collectively, the "Services"). Third parties market their products and services or distribute their content through our Services through a variety of mechanisms.

While Epocrates believes that third-party content, including Commercial Content, is relevant and valuable to users of the Services, we also believe that it is important to identify the source of content made available through Services, through the use of labeling (such as labeling content as ‘Sponsored’) for Commercial Content. When a commercial entity provides content for distribution within our Services, the Epocrates Medical Information Staff does not control the creation or selection of this content, as the material presented is paid for, developed for, and approved by the commercial entity. This content is not subject to the Epocrates Editorial Policy. However, this content must adhere to the requirements below, and it is reviewed by Epocrates for compliance with this Commercial Content Policy. All content provided by commercial entities will be identified by text such as "Provided by" or "Sponsored by" to differentiate it from Epocrates Content within our Services.

Requirements for Commercial Content provided by Commercial Entities 

All content provided by commercial entities must adhere to the requirements below. Epocrates retains the sole discretion to interpret and enforce this Commercial Content Policy and all other issues related to sponsorship within our Services as we see fit. Acceptance of content from a commercial entity is not an endorsement of the product and/or services described or of the entity. Epocrates retains the right to reject content—or discontinue publishing any previously accepted content—at any time if, in our sole discretion, the content does not meet the following requirements:

The general principles of displaying content within our Services are as follows:

1. Source-identified. Content provided by a commercial entity must be readily distinguishable from Epocrates Content;
2. Appropriately labeled. Titles, headlines, and other identifiers must be consistent with the content provided;
3. Accurate. Content must be based on scientifically accurate, rigorous research and must be resonant with good clinical judgment;
4. Current. Content must be up to date and reflect current practice standards;
5. Fair and balanced. Content must be presented fairly and reflect the clinical context appropriately. 

Content types that Epocrates will not accept include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. False, misleading, unsubstantiated, or objectionable content;
2. Content that disparages, discriminates against, or misrepresents an individual or group on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other status that Epocrates deems inappropriate for delivery to Epocrates members;
3. Content that does not meet our technical or product-related specifications, or that contains any content elements that might potentially detract from the clinician's workflow or ease of use of the Services;
4. Contests or other offers that entice the reader to disclose personal identifying information either unwittingly or by baiting

The commercial entity supplying Commercial Content is responsible for complying with all US and foreign laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, current FDA guidelines for Direct to Physician (DTP) promotion. Epocrates is not responsible for monitoring compliance with laws but may refuse or remove content provided by a commercial entity that we deem to be violating laws and/or regulations.

Epocrates may reject, cancel, or remove content from our Services at any time. In this event, we will provide notice to the commercial entity.

Please note that Commercial Content or content provided by commercial entities that has been selected, developed or approved prior to the "Last Updated" date below may be identified differently than as set forth in this Commercial Content Policy. Additionally, Epocrates reserves the right to make exceptions to this Commercial Content Policy, in its sole discretion, as necessary to conduct its business.

This Commercial Content Policy is subject to change at any time. If we make any changes to this Commercial Content Policy, we will change the "Last Updated" date below.

Commercial Content Policy Last Updated: December 15, 2023