 |
Boston University School of Medicine | |
| City: Boston | State: MA | |
|
Commentary: Covering both the medical school and its affiliated hospital, Boston University School of Medicine has strong policies that seem centered in Brennan et al. These policies could move from strong to exemplary with the addition of – for example - measures to ensure drug reps may never hand samples directly to physicians, even if physicians are required to give these samples to the pharmacy. This institution was reassessed after the 2009 launch, improving their domain score for curriculum. Their grade remains a B. This institution's evaluation was last updated: 11/10/2009 |
||
| Gifts & Meals |  |
All gifts and meals "directly or indirectly funded by industry" are prohibited in the hospital and on campus. |
| Consulting relationships |  |
Consulting relationships are required to be set forth in writing for legitimate, specific services, and are subject to annual disclosure. |
| Industry-funded speaking relationships | |
Clinicians with speaking engagements for industry should receive only fair market compensation, and must maintain control over lecture content. |
| Disclosure | |
Per University policy, annual disclosure of all business/financial relationships is required of all faculty and staff. |
| Pharmaceutical samples | |
All samples must be dispensed through the pharmacy, and use by clinicians, staff, and their family is prohibited. Although physicians must give samples they receive to the pharmacy for management and distribution, pharmaceutical sales reps are still able to initially hand samples to physicians, which can perpetuate the use of samples by industry as a marketing tool to influence prescribing. |
| Purchasing & Formularies | |
"Clinicians who are involved in institutional decision concerning the purchase of or approval of medications or equipment, or the negotiation of other contractual relationships with industry must not have a financial interest in the vendor that might benefit from the institutional decision." |
| Industry Sales Representatives | |
Industry representatives must have an appointment with a clinician, and are banned from all patient-care areas. |
| On-campus Education | |
The School of Medicine requires all on-site educational activities, whether ACCME accredited or not, to comply with ACCME standards for commercial support. In addition, meals may not be supported by industry. |
| Attendance at Industry-Sponsored Lectures & Meetings Off-Campus | |
Clinicians and trainees may not accept funding for travel and related expenses except to "review a vendor's products under circumstances that do not create...a conflict of interest." |
| Industry Support for Scholarships & Funds for Trainees | |
Industry may not select recipients of scholarships. |
| Medical school curriculum | |
This institution has demonstrated robust curricular coverage of conflicts of interest and the effects of industry marketing on clinical decision-making. |
| Do the policies specify an oversight mechanism? |  |
Department chairs are responsible for enforcing policies, and report to the Chief Medical Officer. |
| Are there explicit sanctions for noncompliance? |  |
Sanctions referenced in this policy. |
 | |
 | 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) |
