Educational Grants in Support of CME
BACKGROUND: Three external organizations have oversight responsibilities with regard to the financial support of CME activities: The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the American Medical Association (AMA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Each organization has a slightly different interest in the issue, none of which can be ignored. A fourth entity -- the Office of the Inspector General -- has an interest in CME activities insofar as it regulates commerce and business practices within the pharmaceutical and device manufacturing industry. The ACCME accredits medical schools and other health care organizations to sponsor CME activities for physicians and requires those accredited organizations to disclose to learners the sources of funding for those CME activities. Accredited CME providers also are required to document that the funding is provided without intent to influence the content of the program. The AMA states in its Ethical Opinion 8.061, "Gifts to Physicians from Industry," that physicians may not accept gifts of more than nominal value, and should have practical use in the practice of medicine or the management of a medical practice. (AMA's policy may have relevance to CME with regard to some social functions which are occasionally part of CME activities.) FDA policy regulates CME from the industry perspective in that it requires a clear and distinct separation of educational activities and promotional activities. With so many overlapping requirements it is in GW's best interest that all financial support be appropriately managed by the entity charged with responsibility for administration of CME activities - the Office of Continuing Education in the Health Professions. POLICY: All educational grants provided for CME activities shall be forwarded to the Office of CEHP to be credited to the activity account for which they are provided. The execution of a Letter of Agreement with the grant provider will be required in all cases to ensure that the integrity of the CME activity is not threatened. Appropriate acknowledgment of all educational grants must be made in activity promotional materials or by other appropriate means, as prescribed by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education. |