MISSION STATEMENT, GOALS, PHILOSOPHY
The Mission Statement should be clear, concise, and highly visible. Everyone in the organization should be able to recite it and know what it means. The goals and philosophy of an organization or association may be expressed in the mission statement or may be expressed separately. The goals and philosophy should be the long-range intent. This statement clearly delineates the reason and purpose for existence.
POLICY
Policy statements govern and direct. Policy is non-negotiable. Policies are high-level objectives, generally stated broadly, and should explicitly support the longer-term vision. Policy exemplifies wise, expedient, or prudent conduct/management for use within the organization/association.
PRACTICE GUIDELINE
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) lists the definition of practice guideline as “systematically developed statements to assist practitioner and patient decisions about appropriate healthcare for specific clinical circumstances.” The AMA states, “Guidelines are recommendations for patient management which identify a particular strategy or a range of management strategies.” Guidelines are intended to be flexible. They serve as reference points, not rigid criteria. Guidelines should be followed in most cases, but there is an understanding that, depending on the patient, the setting, the circumstances, or other factors, guidelines can and should be tailored to fit individual needs.
POSITION (WHITE PAPER, ETC.)
Webster says position can be defined as: a positing of a proposition; affirmation…the manner in which a person or thing is placed or arranged; attitude; posture; disposition…one’s attitude toward or opinion on a subject. Essentially then, a position statement characterizes the attitude or opinion of an organization or association. The association/organization should limit the subject matter for their position statements to that in which they are involved, have knowledge and expertise, and are believed to be of great import.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommendations are statements regarding a specific subject or circumstance in which an implied rank order exists (e.g., “A” before “B,” before “C,” etc.)
OPTIONS
Options are so flexible as to provide virtually no guidance to a decision. There is little basis for determining which choice is correct.