SDPC CME Planners

FAQ

• What is the purpose of identifitying relevant financial relationships
  • By identifying, mitigating, and disclosing relevant financial relationships, we can create a protected space to learn, teach, and engage in scientific discourse free from influence from organizations that may be incentivized to insert commercial bias into education. 
• What is an ineligible company?
  • The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) defines ineligible companies as companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

• What must be disclosed?

  • All of the following must be disclosed. The CME Committee will determine if the relationship is a relevant financial relationship. 

    • Identifying anyone who has the ability to influence the course content.

    • Collecting a complete list of any relationships with ineligible companies from the past 24 months, including the nature of those relationships.

    • Creating and carrying out steps to address any relevant conflicts.

    • Informing learners whether relevant financial relationships are present or absent.

• If the SDPC CME Committee considers a presenter to have a relevant financial relationship, can they still participate in the program?

  • Disclosures of relationships with ineligible companies does not automatically disqualify a presenter from contributing to the activity. Once the disclosure form has been completed, if a relationship has been disclosed, the CME Committee will determine if the relationship is relevant and develop a mitigation plan if the relationship can be mitigated. If the relationship cannot be mitigated, the individual must be recused from the role, or the activity may not be accredited.  

• If a planner discloses stock options in an ineleigible company can they still particpate?

  • An individual who holds stock options in an ineligible company is not considered an owner or employee of that ineligible company.  Disclosure of stock options would follow the review and mitigation process from the SDPC CME Committee.