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University of Florida College of Medicine | |
| City: Gainesville | State: FL | |
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Commentary: University of Florida College of Medicine has a strong set of policies to limit and illuminate relationships between industry and its medical school faculty, staff and trainees. A strong and thoughtful samples policy as well as a broad unrequested grant stipulation for channeling industry support at the School-wide level make this policy a standout; its on-site education policy could be clarified to go beyond ACCME requirements, and its disclosure policy updated to require reporting of individual payments This institution's evaluation was last updated: 8/24/2008 |
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| Gifts & Meals |  |
COM faculty, residents, staff and students may not accept gifts from industry representatives or vendors regardless of the monetary value of the gift. Though: "Educational materials for COM faculty, residents, staff and students or for patients supplied by industry representatives or vendors is permitted provided such materials are preapproved by the COM Industry Academic Relations committee and are not “branded” by the supplier of the materials. |
| Consulting relationships |  |
Approval of consulting relationships will be granted if the relationship shown to be beneficial to the educational mission of the institution. Consulting arrangements are not required to be described in a formal contract, and there is no stipulation for legitimate services rendered or reasonable compensation. |
| Industry-funded speaking relationships | |
Speakers bureaus are discouraged by this policy, and such relationships are approved only if industry does not provide or approve the content, or if the attendees of the speaking engagement are chosen by or receive gifts or stipends from industry. |
| Disclosure | |
All COM faculty, residents and staff must annually disclose all outside interests using three income ranges: 0-5000; 5000-10,000, and greater than $10,000. The Scorecard notes that under such a disclosure policy, the institution may miss the scope of important outside relationships that have been discovered through investigations in recent months. |
| Pharmaceutical samples | |
This samples policy institutes a voucher system with exceptions available in narrow circumstances. The policy does not preclude sales reps from giving vouchers directly to doctors. |
| Purchasing & Formularies | |
This policy requires disclosure forms to be attached to requisitions for purchase, and if the employee charged with approving requisitions has a financial interest in the vendor, she cannot approve it. While this is a good start, The COM should establish a broader and more comprehensive recusal or committee selection policy for P&T committee members. |
| Industry Sales Representatives | |
On-site access by industry representatives or vendors is restricted to non-patient care and public areas only. Industry representatives and vendors are permitted access to patient care areas and non-public areas only when their presence is necessary for educational purposes and then only by appointment and, when appropriate, with the prior consent of the patient. |
| On-campus Education | |
ACCCME standards are referenced for all on-site educational events |
| Attendance at Industry-Sponsored Lectures & Meetings Off-Campus | |
Industry may support the general aims of COM education through an unrestricted grant to the school, but faculty, staff and resident are specifically banned from industry-furnished payments and stipends to attend off-site meetings. |
| Industry Support for Scholarships & Funds for Trainees | |
Model language: COM faculty, residents, staff and students may not accept scholarships or fellowships to support training initiatives from industry representatives or vendors. Industry representatives or vendors requesting to support the educational mission of the COM may provide an unrestricted grant, which will be placed in a central fund and monitored/distributed by the COM Industry Academic Relations committee. There shall be no quid pro quo associated with such funding. |
| Medical school curriculum |  |
This school did not furnish curricular material. |
| Do the policies specify an oversight mechanism? |  |
The academic relations committee is responsible for oversight |
| Are there explicit sanctions for noncompliance? |  |
This policy stipulates sanctions. |
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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) |
