Editorial Policy

When it comes to your health, you need information you can trust. At UPMC, we strive to provide you with the knowledge you need to make informed choices about your care.

At UPMC.com, you'll find information about:

Conditions and diseases.
General health and wellness.
Symptoms.
Treatment options.
UPMC resources and services.

It's all backed by the expertise of UPMC, a world-class health care provider and insurer.

Please note: The content on our website is designed for general patient educational and information purposes only. It does not render medical advice or professional services unless specified otherwise. It does not substitute for professional medical care.

If you have or believe you have a medical problem, consult your health care provider. If you are having or suspect you're having a medical emergency, call 911 or visit the emergency department. For more information, please view our website's Terms of Use.

Our Content Goals

At UPMC.com, we strive to provide health content that is:

Accurate — Above all, we aim to provide reliable information about symptoms, tests, procedures, and other health topics. That way, you're armed with the knowledge you need for your care. All content goes through a rigorous editorial process to ensure its accuracy.
Easy to understand — We know health care writing can be difficult to grasp at times. We try to avoid jargon and complicated medical terms to make sure you can understand what you're reading.
Inclusive — Health care is for everyone. We strive to create content that is relevant and inclusive to all people.
People-centered — People are at the heart of our care. That's why we aim to provide the information that you need and want the most.
Trustworthy — We use sources you can trust — evidence-based academic journals, government health organizations, and our own experts.
Up to date — In medicine, knowledge changes constantly. We consistently evaluate and update our content to provide the most current information.
User-friendly — Our website design, development, and user experience teams ensure the information you need is easy to find and user-friendly.

Our Editorial Process

Content selection

New content may come from a variety of sources. If UPMC is offering a new test, treatment, or service, we will create content to support it and inform the public. We also use search engine optimization (SEO) tactics like keyword research. This helps us to identify content gaps on our website and also to learn topics that people are interested in.

Writing process

Once we select a new topic, we assign it to a writer. The writer then uses trusted sources to create the content. These sources may include:

Government health agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Peer-reviewed, evidence-based academic medical journals.
Trusted health organizations such as the American Heart Association and National Cancer Institute.
UPMC experts. UPMC employs over 6,000 physicians, along with thousands of other clinicians. We consult with many of these experts to verify that information is accurate and up to date.

We make sure we use sources that include up-to-date information based on the latest medical evidence.

Our writers strive to create content that is conversational, readable, and understandable. We avoid jargon and complicated medical terms, aiming for an eighth-grade reading level or below. We follow a combination of Associated Press style and our own UPMC style.

Editorial review process

Each piece of content we create goes through a rigorous editing process. A UPMC medical professional reviews each piece to ensure medical accuracy and relevance, while our editorial team reviews for grammar, style, and spelling. We also have a legal team that reviews content to ensure it meets legal and ethical standards.

We do not post information until we verify its accuracy, trustworthiness, and quality.

Web development

Our web and user experience teams work together to make sure information on UPMC.com is easy to access, find, and read.

Our search engine optimization team uses metadata and keywords to help users find our information on Google, Bing, and other search engines.

Content updates

The medical world evolves constantly because of new research discoveries and other advancements. We consistently review our content to ensure it is up to date with the most recent medical knowledge.

When we update content, it goes through the same editorial process, including a medical review. This process ensures the information on our website is consistent with the most recent medical knowledge.

Artificial Intelligence

Our editorial team has evaluated the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in content development.

We may use AI software as a guide during the content development process, helping us create readable content that is optimized for search engines. Our editorial team then edits that content and ensures accuracy and quality. No content is created solely with AI, and AI tools are not a substitute for our review process.

Our Team

The people responsible for UPMC.com include:

Editors and writers.
Search engine optimization specialists.
UPMC medical experts.
Web designers and developers.
And many more.

We all work together to ensure the content on our site is accurate, informative, relevant, timely, and trustworthy.

About UPMC

Headquartered in Pittsburgh, UPMC is a world-renowned, nonprofit health care provider and insurer. We are a nationally and internationally recognized leader in clinical care and research.

UPMC has more than 100,000 employees, including more than 5,000 physicians. We have locations throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, and internationally. Our locations include:

40 hospitals.
800 doctors' offices, specialty clinics, and outpatient centers.

UPMC Insurance Services insures more than 4 million people, focusing on providing world-class health care at an affordable price.

Learn more about UPMC.