Governance

Surveys from AAPM groups (e.g., committee, subcommittee, working group, task group) will be considered for distribution to AAPM membership, or some subset of AAPM membership, when the survey supports the Vision, Mission, and/or Strategic Plan of the AAPM. 

Surveys from external not-for-profit organizations will be considered for distribution to AAPM membership, or some subset of AAPM membership, when

1. a group (e.g., committee, subcommittee, working group, task group) within the AAPM agrees to serve as the proponent group within the AAPM and as the liaison to the external organization,
2. the survey supports the Vision, Mission, and/or Strategic Plan of the AAPM, and
3. the survey results will be made available to AAPM members through open-access publication or by providing results to the AAPM for posting on its website via members-only access.

AAPM shall not distribute surveys that

1. solicit data for projects initiated by an individual or by an entity not meeting the above requirements,
2. violate AAPM’s privacy policy,
3. request disclosure of protected health information, or
4. are for commercial purposes.

The survey request must contain:

1. a brief summary of the purpose of the survey,
2. the proposed survey recipients,
3. the proposed survey questions,
4. the proposed analysis approach,
5. the proposed outcome measures, and
6. the proposed manner in which the survey results will be made available to AAPM members.

The professional survey subcommittee (PSS) will:

1. review the submitted materials for compliance with this policy,
2. assess whether the purpose of the survey supports the Vision, Mission, and/or Strategic Plan of the AAPM,
3. review the proposed survey recipients, questions, analysis approach, and outcome measure for potential bias,
4. determine if there is a possible overlap with other approved surveys or projects,
5. determine if there is a potential for the proposed survey to impact other surveys or projects,
6. discuss and resolve any concerns with the requesting group,
7. provide a final recommendation to EXCOM that the survey request be approved as presented or be denied.

EXCOM will review the survey request and the recommendations of the PSS to make a final decision, which may under some special circumstances, counter the recommendations of the PSS. 

The decision of EXCOM shall be communicated to the requesting group by the Executive Director. One appeal by the requesting group shall be considered, after which the decision of EXCOM will be final.

In most instances, surveys shall be circulated electronically by AAPM headquarters personnel. When a situation requires that the surveyor electronically circulate the request using AAPM email addresses, a one-time data use agreement will be required.