When using the PRN e-mail lists, please take care to be respectful of your fellow colleagues and observe the following procedures.

E-mail List Etiquette and Procedures:

1. Include a signature on all messages. The signature should include your name, affiliation, location, and e-mail address.
2. Clearly articulate in communications whether the information being provided represents factual information/data or is a professional or personal opinion.
3. Recognize, and be sensitive to the fact, that use of the e-mail list is a “public” activity subject to the subpoena power of law enforcement authorities, like most other forms of communication. There should be no expectation of privacy in e-mail list communications.
4. It is recommended that you send all of your messages to an e-mail list in plain text format as opposed to rich text or HTML.
5. When you receive a message directed to the list, selecting the Reply button in your e-mail program will send the response to the author of the message. Selecting the Reply All button in your e-mail program will send your response to the original author as well as the entire list. Always double-check the name or address you are replying to when responding to a message transmitted by an e-mail list.
6. If you receive an unwanted message from a list member who does not observe these rules, please do not respond to the list. Instead, ignore the message or, if you feel the need to respond to the sender, make certain you reply only to the sender.
7. If you plan to use an automatic e-mail response to indicate that you are out of the office, please remember to set your subscription type to NOMAIL until you return.

Prohibited Communications:

The following types of communications must be rigorously avoided on all PRN e-mail lists because of their actual or perceived violation of federal laws related to restraint of trade and/or anti-competitive practices:

1. Comments, recommendations, questions, or answers concerning the establishment or amounts of specific prices, charges, or costs for products and/or services, sharing of fee structures, or financial information that could suggest possible price collusion between competitors (e.g., competing clinicians or institutions).
2. Recommendations that favor or disfavor a particular vendor or service provider based on the price of those services (e.g., directly or indirectly recommending a “boycott” of a product or service based on price).
3. Opinions that stray toward or may suggest prohibited activities cited above.

For more information on using the PRN e-mail lists, please click here.