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Table 1 Revision of AMSA scorecard model COI policies

From: The updated AMSA scorecard of conflict-of-interest policies: a survey of U.S. medical schools

Policy Area

2008 AAMC Recommendation

Original AMSA Scorecard Model Policy

2014 AMSA Scorecard Model Policy

Conflict of Interest Disclosure

Domain not addressed

Disclose on public website and/or to patients

Disclose to institution and externally to medical students and trainees

Industry-funded speakers’ bureausa

Strongly discouraged

Prohibited

Prohibited

Industry-support of accredited CME

Permitted if funds coordinated and overseen by a central CME office

Permitted if funds coordinated and overseen by a central CME office

Permitted in rare circumstances such as blinded pool of funds not earmarked for specific courses

Attendance of unaccredited industry-sponsored educational events

Prohibited

Permitted, but travel funds must be awarded independent of industry influence

Prohibited

Access of pharmaceutical sales representatives to AMCsa

Permitted by appointment only, and restricted to non-patient areas.

Prohibited; non-marketing interactions permitted

Prohibited; non-marketing interactions permitted

Access of medical device representatives to AMCsb

Permitted by appointment, with prior disclosure and patient consent, and for technical assistance and in-service training only.

Domain not addressed

Permitted by appointment, with prior disclosure and patient consent, and for technical assistance and in-service training only.

COI curriculuma

Required for all phases of medical education.

Required for all phases of medical education.

Required, with a comprehensive curriculum mirroring AMSA best practices.

Extension of AMC COI policies to community teaching affiliates and to all facultyb

Required off-site.

Domain not addressed

Required off-site and for all faculty, including voluntary.

Gifts

Prohibited

Prohibited except textbooks

Prohibited

Meals

Prohibited, except when in connection with CME programming.

Prohibited, except when in connection with CME programming.

All meals prohibited, including in CME courses

Consulting

Permitted if compensation reflects the fair market value of the services provided.

Permitted with prior approval, plus either formal contract or payment commensurate to deliverable

Permitted if consulting is limited to scientific and not marketing topics.

Ghostwriting and Honorary Authorshipb

Prohibited

Domain not addressed

Prohibited

Industry-Supported Travel Scholarships for Trainees (excluding support for research training)

Permitted, but recipient selection must be independent of industry sponsor

Permitted, but recipient selection must be independent of industry sponsor

Prohibited

Enforcementb

Domain not addressed

Required, but not part of formal scoring

Required, and integrated into final score

  1. aModel policies identical in original and new versions
  2. bPolicies not present in original version of scorecard