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University of Massachusetts Medical School | |
| City: Worcester | State: MA | |
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Links:
Commentary:FAQs_UMM_Policy_2-2008.doc Conflict_of_Interest_Policy_w-out_Disclos_Stmt_3-_2007.doc Conflict_of_Interest_Disclosure_Statement_E_Learn_4_U_6-2007.doc Vendor_Relationships_Policy_-_UMMMC_Format_7-21-2008_Final.doc Clear, model language throughout is a hallmark of University of Massachusetts Medical School’s policy on industry interactions. The Medical School supports this strong policy with a lucid and practical frequently asked questions document.
This institution's evaluation was last updated: 6/16/2009 |
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| Gifts & Meals |  |
All gifts and on-site industry funded meals are banned. (Indirect sponsoring of meals in CME events are allowed) Noteworthy: the Medical School will engage in an input and education process to phase in gifts policy for all medical staff. |
| Consulting relationships | |
Consulting arrangements require a written agreement with specific and substantive deliverables, and further all consulting arrangements must be disclosed to the medical school for review. The Medical School has also restricted these relationships by providing a list of services that are legitimate: 1. Design of a new clinical trial or conduct or an existing clinical trial with which the institution is involved; 2. Development of a new diagnostic, therapeutic, or technical product; or 3. Development of an educational product. Consulting with marketing aims is specifically prohibited. |
| Industry-funded speaking relationships | |
Lecture content must be developed exclusively by the faculty member with no Clinical Vendor input or requirement for approval. Participation in speakers' bureaus is explicitly prohibited. "…clinical employees including physicians may not serve as members of any vendor speakers' bureau. If such individuals are bound by an existing formal contract," they must not renew or extend it. The Medical School also requires all compensated speaking relationships be disclosed for review. |
| Disclosure |  |
All medical school professors and associate professors (as well as all department heads, chairs, officers and board members) must disclose upon hiring (and annually thereafter) external financial relationships including but not limited to: research activities, clinical activities, technology related activities, scholarly activities, outside business activities, outside consulting & other relationships with industry. |
| Pharmaceutical samples | |
"All drug samples must be delivered to and remain under control of the Medical Center's Pharmacy," breaking the marketing link between detailer and clinician. |
| Purchasing & Formularies | |
Clinical Personnel with any financial relationship with a Clinical Vendor may not be a member of the Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee or any subcommittees. "The Medical Center's Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Device Procurement Committees should consist of members with no financial relationships with manufacturers, including gifts, grants, consulting, or other contracts," resulting in the potential exclusion of some current members and implementation of a disclosure process that is not expanded on elsewhere. |
| Industry Sales Representatives | |
Vendors are allowed only in non-patient care areas and only by appointment. |
| On-campus Education | |
An oversight committee responsible for reviewing potential conflicts of interest that arise from industry sponsorship of CME and GME events. While the institution does stipulate centralization of industry funds supporting educational events, it does so at the departmental, rather than institutional level. This allows industry sponsors to continue to exert funding bias over topic selection for CME. |
| Attendance at Industry-Sponsored Lectures & Meetings Off-Campus | |
Travel funds and reimbursement are only permitted when legitimate professional services are being provided; such funds may not be accepted by attendees. "No honoraria, travel or lodging cost may be covered if the employee is simply attending" an educational conference. |
| Industry Support for Scholarships & Funds for Trainees | |
The recipients of scholarships or fellowships are chosen solely at the discretion of the department chair or the associate dean for graduate medical education, and the activity must be deemed to have educational merit. |
| Medical school curriculum |  |
No curriculum component of policy provided. |
| Do the policies specify an oversight mechanism? |  |
Oversight established |
| Are there explicit sanctions for noncompliance? | |
Sanctions referenced |
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 | Model policy |
 | Good progress toward model policy |
 | No policy, or policy unlikely to have a substantial effect on behavior |
 | Did not report |
 | Policy not relevant to this institution (e.g., does not make purchasing decisions) |
