AMSA Pharm-free Scorecard 2009
B University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
City: Madison State: WI
Links:
Commentary:

UW SMPH possesses strong policies regulating industry interaction, including, notably, a commendable policy on samples, replacing them with vouchers to serve patients while providing equal access to generic medications. UW SMPH also has a comprehensive annual disclosure policy and an in-depth review procedure for certain key staff and researchers.

The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health has submitted a new student policy for the 2009 AMSA PharmFree Scorecard. Their grade remains a B.

This institution has not consented to allow the public posting of their policies.

 

This institution's evaluation was last updated: 6/16/2009



Gifts & Meals 2 This institution has strong policies prohibiting the provision of on-site meals by industry and substantially limiting gifting. However, certain exceptions for educational gifts allow pharmaceutical marketing to continue to exert inappropriate influence on prescribing behavior.
Consulting relationships 1 The institution has a detailed and rigorous review process in place for faculty with external relationships who are also involved in federally-funded research or human subjects research. However faculty not involved in such research who may have extensive external industry relationships do not qualify for review. In addition, the institution does not have policy language requiring all consulting relationships be described in an official contract, or that payment is commensurate to the task. Such provisions only exist for researchers.
Industry-funded speaking relationships 2 The institution does not have a policy that limits long-term external speaking relationships with industry. However, an encompassing annual disclosure process does capture all existing speaking relationships among faculty and reviews some of those relationships (those of faculty in federally-funded or human subjects research.)
Disclosure 2 Institution staff must annually disclose all external relationships. 
Pharmaceutical samples 2 This institution bans samples in all inpatient clinics and has established specific and very restrictive policies for their use in outpatient settings – specifically a voucher system has been instituted that provides equal access to both generic and brand-name medication. However, vouchers for brand-name medication may still be given directly to doctors by sales representatives.
Purchasing & Formularies 3 Members of purchasing or formulary committees may not participate in decisions wherein they have possible conflicts of interest.
Industry Sales Representatives 2 The institution requires vendors to have an appointment before accessing the site, and expressly prohibits cold calling or soliciting an appointment. Vendors are also prohibited from patient care areas unless permission is obtained in advance from the patient and management.
On-campus Education 2 The School of Medicine requires that CME content be free of commercial influence and has put in place a review system to ensure educational programs are free of commercial bias. In addition, the institution's extensive CME policy states that all industry support is free of industry control, but no policy was provided relating to industry involvement in other educational non-accredited events.
Attendance at Industry-Sponsored Lectures & Meetings Off-Campus 1 The institution prohibits the payment of honoraria for meeting attendance, but this policy applies only to CME events sponsored by UW SMPH, not to off-site, industry-sponsored events. An additional CME policy on managing COI restricts faculty behavior off-site, but only applies to faculty involved in the planning of UW SMPH CME events, not faculty or students as a whole.
Industry Support for Scholarships & Funds for Trainees 2 Industry is allowed to donate money to students "indirectly," but industry choice of the recipient of the funds is not explicitly prohibited. However, because companies must discuss indirect donations to students with the dean of the appropriate school, oversight is established.
Medical school curriculum 3 A new policy on student/industry interaction outlines a thorough curricular requirement for medical students covering industry marketing tactics and effects of interaction on behavior and prescribing.
Do the policies specify an oversight mechanism? Yes These policies cite responsible parties for oversight of CME conflicts of interest policies. 
Are there explicit sanctions for noncompliance? Yes These policies outline sanctions for noncompliance with the CME conflicts of interest policies. 
What the results mean...
3Model policy
2Good progress toward model policy
1No policy, or policy unlikely to have a substantial effect on behavior
0Did not report
N/APolicy not relevant to this institution (e.g., does not make purchasing decisions)