Policy


Policy and Guidelines for Interactions between the Stanford University School of Medicine, the Stanford Hospital and Clinics, and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital with the Pharmaceutical, Biotech, Medical Device, and Hospital and Research Equipment and Supplies Industries ("Industry")

bullet Purpose of Policy

bullet Statement of Policy

bullet Scope of Policy

Date of implementation: October 1, 2006
Revised as of July 1, 2014

Purpose of Policy

The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines for interactions with Industry representatives throughout the Stanford University Medical Center (SUMC), which is composed of the Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford Hospital and Clinics and the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital. Interactions with Industry occur in a variety of contexts, including marketing of new pharmaceutical products, medical devices, and hospital and research equipment and supplies on-site, on-site training of newly purchased devices, the development of new devices, educational support of medical students and trainees, and continuing medical education. Faculty and trainees also participate in interactions with Industry off campus and in scholarly publications in a variety of circumstances including consulting activities of various sorts. Many aspects of these interactions are very positive and important for promoting the educational, clinical and research missions of the Medical Center and for translating knowledge and expertise from the faculty to society. However, these interactions must be ethical and cannot create conflicts of interest (COI) that could endanger patient safety, data integrity, the integrity of our education and training programs, or the reputation of either the faculty member or the institution. Individuals must consciously and actively divorce clinical care decisions from any perceived or actual benefits expected from any company. It is unacceptable for patient care decisions to be influenced by the possibility of personal financial gain. See policy for Conflicts of Interest in Clinical Care.

Statement of Policy

It is the policy of the Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford Hospital and Clinics and the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital that interactions with Industry should be conducted so as to avoid or minimize conflicts of interest. When conflicts of interest do arise they must be addressed appropriately, as described herein.

Scope of Policy

This policy incorporates the following types of interactions with Industry.

  1. Gifts and compensation
  2. Site access by sales and marketing representatives
  3. Provision of scholarships and other educational funds to students and trainees
  4. Support for educational and other professional activities
  5. Disclosure of relationships with industry
  6. Training of students, trainees, and staff regarding potential conflict of interest in industry interactions

Specific policies concerning conflicts of interest related to research activities are covered by the Faculty Policy on Conflicts of Commitment and Interest, Conflict of Interest and Commitment for Academic Staff, and the Staff Conflict of Interest Policy.

For purposes of this policy, "faculty" is defined as all members of the Academic Council [University Tenure Line, Non-tenure Line (Research), Non-tenure Line (Teaching) and Non-tenure Line (Clinical)], the Medical Center Line, the Clinician Educator Line and Adjunct Clinical Faculty. All faculty are required to comply with this policy at all times whether they are full time, part time, or active emeriti.

In addition, Academic Council and Medical Center Line faculty must all comply with the Faculty Policy on Conflict of Commitment and Interest. Clinician Educator Line faculty must comply with the Staff Policy on Conflict of Interest and Commitment. Additional information specifically related to industry interactions involving ACCME – accredited educational activities (also called CME) can be found at  http://cme.stanford.edu/documents/commercial_support_policy_2008.pdf. This policy also does not address relationships with other entities that are not encompassed by "Industry."

  1. Gifts and Compensation

    1. Medical staff, faculty, staff, students, trainees and employees may not accept gifts from Industry anywhere at the Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford Hospital and Clinics, the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, the Menlo Clinic or at any other clinical facility operated by either hospital, such as the LPCH Pediatric Unit at El Camino Hospital. Philanthropic gifts may only be accepted through the Office of Medical Development or the Office of Hospital Development.

      1. It is strongly advised that no form of personal gift from Industry be accepted under any circumstances. Individuals should be aware of other applicable policies, such as the AMA Statement on Gifts to Physicians from Industry and the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education Standards for Commercial Support.
      2. Free drug samples are considered gifts under this policy and may not be accepted anywhere at the Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford Hospital and Clinics, the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, the Menlo Clinic or at any other clinical facility operated by either hospital, such as the LPCH Pediatric Unit at El Camino Hospital.
    2. The following provisions apply to School of Medicine faculty, staff, students and trainees without limitation as to location. Gifts or compensation may not be accepted:

      1. At any non-Stanford-operated clinical facility such as other hospitals and outreach clinics. However, no provision of this section shall apply to members of the ACF when engaged in patient-centered clinical activities unrelated to Stanford School of Medicine. Members of the ACF should be aware of other applicable policies, such as the 2010 AMA statement on physician use of drug samples (Opinion 8.061 - Gifts to Physicians from Industry) and the 2009 Institute of Medicine of the National Academies statement on Conflict of Interest in Medical Research, Education, and Clinical Practice and are strongly discouraged from accepting free drug samples since these are closely linked with marketing rather than professional activities.
      2. For listening to a sales talk by an industry representative.
      3. For prescribing or changing a patient's prescription.
      4. For simply attending a CME or other activity or conference, including the defraying of costs (that is, if the individual is not speaking or otherwise actively participating or presenting at the event).

      Back to Scope Index

  2. Site Access by Sales and Marketing Representatives
    1. Sales and marketing representatives are not permitted in any patient care areas except to provide in-service training on devices and other equipment and then only by appointment.

    2. Sales and marketing representatives are permitted in non-patient care areas by appointment only. Appointments will normally be made for such purposes as:
      1. In-service training of Stanford Hospital and Clinic or Lucile Packard Children's Hospital personnel for research or clinical equipment or devices already purchased.
      2. Evaluation of new purchases of equipment, devices, or related items.
      3. Appointments for these purposes may be made on a per visit basis or as a standing appointment for a specified period of time, at the discretion of the faculty member, his or her division or department, or designated hospital personnel issuing the invitation and with the approval of appropriate hospital management.

        Back to Scope Index

  3. Provision of Scholarships and Other Educational Funds to Participants in School of Medicine Educational Programs
    1. Industry support of students and trainees in the School of Medicine educational programs should be free of any actual or perceived conflict of interest, must be specifically for the purpose of education and must comply with all of the following provisions:
      1. The School of Medicine department, program, division or institute selects the student or trainee.
      2. The funds are provided to the School, department, program, division or institute and not directly to the student or trainee or to an individual faculty member.
      3. The department, program, division or institute has determined that the funded conference or program has educational merit.
      4. The recipient is not subject to any implicit or explicit expectation of providing something in return for the support, i.e., a "quid pro quo"
      5. Notification of receipt of Industry support should be submitted at the time of receipt by the Office of the Associate Dean for Postgraduate Medical Education to the Office of the Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education, who will provide the Dean and the Conflict of Interest Review Program with an annual summary of this information for review.
    2. This provision does not apply to national or regional merit-based awards.

      Back to Scope Index

  4. Support for Educational and Other Professional Activities

    1. Support for Certified Educational Activities

      All ACCME-accredited Continuing Medical Education (CME) activities developed through the Stanford Center for Continuing Medical Education (SCCME) must comply with both the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support and the School of Medicine CME Commercial Support Policy. All CME activities held on the Stanford campus must use Stanford School of Medicine as their certified provider. Direct commercial funding for specific CME courses or programs initiated by industry is not allowed. However, directors of CME activities may seek support from industry for specific CME activities under the following conditions: 1) industry support is sought in collaboration with and under the auspices of the SCCME; and 2) this support is intended only for activities in areas that have previously been designated by Stanford for curricular development. These areas will be defined at regular intervals as educational support opportunities by each Department Chair or Center Director and submitted in proposal format to SCCME for review by the Strategic Advisory Committee (SAC). The SAC will assess each proposal’s independence and fit within the missions of Stanford Medicine’s entities. Industry funding can be accepted only in support of these previously identified-areas of curricular need. If a commercial entity agrees to support a certified educational activity, both the commercial entity and Stanford are required to sign a Letter of Agreement for Commercial Support (LOA) which specifies the commercial interest that is the source of commercial support and terms and conditions in compliance with the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support. This instrument must be endorsed by a responsible company official (who is authorized to make such commitments) and by the Associate Dean for Postgraduate Medical Education or the Director of CME.

      In-kind support (the loan or donation of equipment and/or supplies from a commercial entity) will not need to be approved by the SAC but must comply with both the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support and the School of Medicine CME Commercial Support Policy.

      Industry exhibits and advertisements are prohibited in Stanford CME activities whether these occur on or off-campus.

      Further information may be found at http://cme.stanford.edu/policies/commercialsupport.html and inquiries should be directed to the Stanford Center for Continuing Medical Education.

    2. Support for Non-Certified Education and Other Professional Activities

      All other Stanford Medicine educational events (non-certified education) and events that take place on Stanford University Campus that are partially or fully supported by Industry must follow these guidelines:

      1. Support from Industry is acceptable, but only if approved, received and managed by a department, program, division or institute, rather than by an individual faculty member.
      2. If a commercial entity agrees to fund a non-certified educational activity, both the commercial entity and Stanford are required to sign a Letter of Agreement (LOA) which specifies the commercial interest that is the source of commercial support and terms and conditions in compliance with Stanford’s policy as outlined in Stanford’s letter of agreement. This instrument must be reviewed by the appropriate group within Stanford (e.g. Corporate & Foundation Relations, Planned Giving, Office of Technology Licensing) and once approved, endorsed by a responsible company official (who is authorized to make such commitments) and by the Department Chair or Center Director.
      3. Support, both financial and “in kind,” may be designated for education in general, for a broadly defined topic (e.g., cardiology, psychiatry, neurosurgery) or recurring educational activity (e.g., grand rounds) or for a specific topic, speaker or activity, but only if the course director and his/her Department Chair or Center Director determine and attest that the commercial entity has exerted no control on those responsible for educational content and that the activity is otherwise free of bias.

      3. Activity/ Support Type

      Proposal Developer

      Proposal Reviewer

      Approved By

      Request Administrator

      LOA Negotiator

      LOA Signer

      CME Funds

      Course Director

      Strategic Advisory Committee

      Strategic Advisory Committee / SCCME

      SCCME

      SCCME

      Associate Dean of Postgraduate Medical Ed./ Director of CME

      CME In-Kind

      Course Director

      Assoc Dean of Postgraduate Medical Ed / Director of CME

      Assoc Dean of Postgraduate Medical Ed / Director of CME

      SCCME

      SCCME

      Assoc Dean of Postgraduate Medical Ed / Director of CME

      Non-CME Funds

      Activity Developer

      Department, Program, Division or Institute

      Department, Program, Division or Institute

      Corporate & Foundation Relations / Planned Giving / Office of Technology Licensing

      Corporate & Foundation Relations / Planned Giving / Office of Technology Licensing

      Department Chair or Center Director

      Non-CME In-Kind

      Activity Developer

      Department, Program, Division or Institute

      Department, Program, Division or Institute

      Corporate & Foundation Relations / Planned Giving / Office of Technology Licensing

      Corporate & Foundation Relations / Planned Giving / Office of Technology Licensing

      Department Chair or Center Director


      Stipulations Regarding Support for Certified or Non-certified Activities
      1. Industry support for education must be spent exclusively on education.
      2. Industry support may not influence curriculum in any way. Stanford must lead the identification of needs, determination of educational objectives, selection and presentation of content, selection of all persons and organizations that control the content, selection of educational methods, and evaluation.
      3. Industry exhibits are prohibited either on or off-campus.
      4. Industry promotion or marketing (e.g. corporate logos, slogans, signs, brochures or other marketing materials) are not allowed in the educational space.
      5. Acknowledgement of funding or in-kind support may be made on promotional materials for educational activities.
      6. Industry employees will normally not serve as educators at such activities. Industry employees who are approved to participate in CME activities must abide by ACCME requirements. For non-CME activities, activity directors must ensure that presentations are free of commercial bias.
      7. When a faculty member has a financial interest that poses a content relevant conflict of interest, this should be disclosed to the learners both verbally and on a slide at the beginning of the presentation. Receipt of industry support for educational activities for Stanford medical and graduate students and postdoctoral fellows and trainees must be reported at the time of receipt to the Senior Associate Dean of Medical Education.
      8. Meals or other types of food funded by Industry may not be provided during these educational activities.

      Meetings and Conferences Supported in Part or in Whole by Industry as They Involve School of Medicine Faculty, Students, Staff and Trainees:

      1. School of Medicine faculty, students, staff and trainees should evaluate carefully their attendance at meetings and conferences that are fully or partially sponsored or run by Industry because of the potential for perceived or real conflict of interest. They should be especially cognizant of this potential when considering whether to play a leadership role in such meetings and conferences by giving a lecture, organizing the meeting and the like. Except as noted below, these activities are allowed if the following guidelines are followed:

        1. The activity is designed to promote evidence-based clinical care and/or advance scientific research;
        2. Financial support by Industry is fully disclosed to the learners by the meeting sponsor
        3. The following provisions about scholarly and educational activities apply to School of Medicine faculty, students, staff and trainees.
        4. The lecturer and not the Industry sponsor determines and prepares the meeting or lecture content.
        5. In scholarly publications, individuals must disclose their related financial interests in accordance with the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (www.icmje.org). In scholarly and public presentations faculty should disclose all relevant personal financial interests when appropriate.
        6. The lecturer is expected to provide a fair and balanced assessment of therapeutic options and to promote objective scientific and educational activities and discourse.
        7. The Industry sponsor does not stipulate acceptance of advice or services concerning speakers, content, etc., as a condition of the sponsor's contribution of funds or services.
        8. When the lecturer is speaking as part of consulting activities, he or she makes clear that content reflects individual views and not the views of Stanford School of Medicine.
        9. The use of the Stanford name in a non-Stanford event is limited to the identification of the individual by his or her title and affiliation.
        10. Attendees do not receive gifts such as meals, travel, lodging, other gifts or compensation for attendance.

      2. Participation in the following activities is not permitted:
      1. Industry-sponsored "speakers bureaus” (i.e., contractual relationships to give talks in which the topic(s) are determined and/or the content is provided by the company).
      2. Dedicated marketing and training programs designed solely or predominantly for sales or marketing purposes.

          3. Back to Scope Index

      3. Training of Students, Trainees and Staff Regarding Potential Conflict of Interest in Interactions with Industry

        All School of Medicine students, residents, and trainees will receive this policy document   as well as training regarding potential conflict of interest in interactions with industry. School of Medicine staff will receive a copy of this policy document in their initial employment materials.

        Back to Scope Index

      This policy will be modified as necessary in the future to be in compliance with requirements of external agencies.

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