Code of Conduct

Chat Code of Conduct

Community Rules & Etiquette and Privacy Guidelines

AAPPR Chat is a member benefit provided for the exclusive use of AAPPR members in the Individual, Honorary, and Interim membership categories for the purpose of questions, networking, and exchanges of information. 

By joining and using AAPPR’s Chat Community, you agree that you have read and will comply with this AAPPR Chat Code of Conduct, AAPPR Code of Ethics, and the AAPPR Antitrust Policy.   Each participant agrees to indemnify and hold AAPPR harmless for all claims, potential claims, causes of actions, lawsuits or any other consequences, whether foreseeable or unforeseeable, in all respects whatsoever.

Violations of the AAPPR Chat Code of Conduct will subject the user to disciplinary actions by AAPPR including, but not limited to, suspension or expulsion from AAPPR chat, or in accordance with AAPPR Bylaws, a forfeiture of AAPPR membership.  AAPPR does not actively monitor or censor the site for inappropriate postings. However, if inappropriate posting is brought to AAPPR’s attention, AAPPR will take all appropriate action including but not limited to removal of such post.

Please take a moment to acquaint yourself with these important rules governing behavior on AAPPR Chat.   If you have questions, contact us at info@aappr.org. 

  • All defamatory, abusive, profane, threatening, offensive, or illegal materials are strictly prohibited.
  • Interact with Chat members in a respectful, professional, and ethical manner.
  • Do not post anything in a listserv message you would not want the world to see or anyone to know came from you. 
  • Do not forward, print and send or otherwise relay information from the Chat outside of your organization.  AAPPR Chat messages are to be read and utilized by AAPPR members ONLY.
  • Do not include anyone in your emails to Chat in the “to” or “cc” or “bcc”.  This could result in that person receiving all replies to your email which is a violation of the Chat Code of Conduct.
  • Do not attack others. The discussions on the lists are meant to stimulate conversation, not create contention. 
  • Do not pose questions or participate in discussions relating to salaries, prices, pricing strategies, restrictions on advertising, maintaining the profitability of a profession or industry, terms or conditions of sale, minimizing discounts, gifts or promotions, profits, profit margins, cost data, market share, sales territories, customers or selection, rejection, or termination of customers or suppliers (per the AAPPR Anti-trust Policy). Here are some examples (however not an exhaustive list) of topics that are considered “contractual details” that cannot be discussed on the AAPPR Chat listserv:
    • Provider compensation (specific numbers or ranges) – however general models  can be discussed (not yours specifically) and recommendations on national surveys may be given
      • i.e.: We offer $XXX for primary care physicians – VIOLATION
    • Provider benefits including details  (specific or general) on vacation time, CME time and dollar amounts, retirement benefits, stipends, relocation amounts, loan repayment amounts, etc.; you may not indicate what your compensation and benefits package details are in any form; even listing the benefits that are included in your package without including a quantity would be a violation of anti-trust law
      • i.e.: We offer relocation assistance and a sign on bonus - VIOLATION
      • i.e.: We offer $XXX for CME and X days PTO - VIOLATION
    • Vendor fees/rates
      • i.e.: Firm ABC offers a rate of $XXX - VIOLATION
    • Vendor contract terms (such as period that a candidate “belongs” to a firm )
      • i.e.: We require our contracts to be limited to 12 months for the candidate “sunset clause” - VIOLATION
  • Do not share copyrighted information from any sources (e.g. MGMA or AMGA salary surveys). According to copyright law, documents created while in the employment of another organization belong to that organization.  
  • Do not share documents that you do not have authorization to share.  It is best to only share documents from your current organization that you have permission to share.  You may also consider removing your organization’s identifying information from the document prior to sharing it.  
  • Use caution when discussing products or services, and the companies providing such products and services. Information posted on the lists is available for all to see, and comments are subject to libel, slander, and antitrust laws. However, feel free to explain your situation regarding products, services and companies while avoiding unflattering labels.  Think behavioral interviewing: what happened, who did what and the outcome.
  • If you personally endorse a company, service, or product and have a financial arrangement with the company, you must disclose that financial arrangement as part of your endorsement.
  • Include a signature tag on all messages.  Include your name, organization, phone, address (including city, state and zip), and email address. 
  • Only send a message to the entire list when it contains information from which everyone can benefit. 
  • Do not send general messages such as "thanks for the information" or "me, too" to the entire list. In those instances please reply only to the individual.  

Additional Points on Discussion Group Etiquette

  • Include a signature tag on all messages. Include your name, affiliation, location. 
  • State concisely and clearly the topic of your comments in the subject line. This allows members to respond more appropriately to your posting and makes it easier for members to search the archives by subject. 
  • Only send a message to the entire list when it contains information that everyone can benefit from. 
  • Send messages such as "thanks for the information" or "me, too" to individuals--not to the entire list. Do this by using the "Reply to Sender" link to the left of every message.
  • Do not send administrative messages, such as remove me from the list. Instead, use the web interface to change your settings or to remove yourself from a list. If you are changing e-mail addresses, you do not need to remove yourself from the list and rejoin under your new e-mail address. Simply change your settings. 

More Legal Stuff that is Worth Repeating

This site is provided as a service for the members of Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment.  AAPPR is not responsible for the opinions and information posted on this site by others. We disclaim all warranties with regard to information posted on this site, whether posted by AAPPR or any third party; this disclaimer includes all implied warranties of merchantability and fitness. In no event shall AAPPR be liable for any special, indirect, or consequential damages or any damages whatsoever resulting from loss of use, data, or profits, arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of any information posted on this site.

Do not post any defamatory, abusive, profane, threatening, offensive, or illegal materials. Do not post any information or other material protected by copyright without the permission of the copyright owner. By posting material, the posting party warrants and represents that he or she owns the copyright with respect to such material or has received permission from the copyright owner. In addition, the posting party grants Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment and users of this site the nonexclusive right and license to display, copy, publish, distribute, transmit, print, and use such information or other material.

Messages should not be posted if they encourage or facilitate members to arrive at any agreement that either expressly or impliedly leads to price fixing, a boycott of another's business, or other conduct intended to illegally restrict free trade. Messages that encourage or facilitate an agreement about the following subjects are inappropriate: prices, discounts, or terms or conditions of sale; salaries; profits, profit margins, or cost data; market shares, sales territories, or markets; allocation of customers or territories; or selection, rejection, or termination of customers or suppliers.

AAPPR does not actively monitor the site for inappropriate postings and does not on its own undertake editorial control of postings. However, in the event that any inappropriate posting is brought to the attention of AAPPR we will take all appropriate action.

The Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment reserves the right to terminate access to any user who does not abide by these guidelines.

Privacy Policy

We respect your privacy

Any personal information you provide to us including and similar to your name, address, telephone number and e-mail address will not be released, sold, or rented to any entities or individuals outside of our organization except as noted below.

With Whom Do We Share the Personal Information We Collect Through This Site

Our Service Providers. 
We may share your personal information with companies (including our affiliates) that perform services on our behalf, for example, companies that help process credit card payments. Our service providers are required by contract to protect the confidentiality of the personal information we share with them and to use it only to provide specific services on our behalf. 

Business Transfers. 
Your personal information may be transferred to another entity (either an affiliated entity or an unrelated third party) in connection with a merger, reorganization, dissolution or similar corporate event. If such a transfer were ever to occur, the acquiring entity’s use of your personal information will still be subject to this Privacy Policy. 

Government and Legal Disclosures 
We may disclose the personal information we collect through this Site, when we, in good faith, believe disclosure is appropriate to comply with the law (or a court order or subpoena); to prevent or investigate a possible crime, such as fraud or identity theft; to enforce our Terms and Conditions or other agreements that govern your use of this Site; or to protect the rights, property or safety of our company, our users, or others.

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We are not responsible for the content of external internet sites. You are advised to read the privacy policy of external sites before disclosing any personal information.

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Remember The Risks Whenever You Use The Internet

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