Tips on Complying with the Updated Standards for Commercial Support

Faculty that Serve as Faculty and Do Promotional Programs

One of the greatest challenges CME providers face is that they're often drawing faculty for certified activities from the same pool of speakers who are trained to do promotional programs for pharma companies. This problem will continue under the updated Standards, which do not prohibit faculty who serve on speakers bureaus from speaking at CME activities, as Murray Kopelow, MD, chief executive, Accreditation Council for CME, has clarified.

At a mini-plenary, Sue Ann Capizzi, MBA, assistant director, division of continuing physician professional development, and director, CME strategic business development, American Medical Association, Chicago, Ill., suggested asking speakers to make this statement: “It is my obligation to disclose to you (the audience) that I am on the speaker's bureau for [name of commercial interest(s)] and I have received training to provide promotional presentations for these companies. However, I acknowledge that today's activity is certified CME and thus cannot be promotional. Therefore, I have agreed that for this presentation, I will not be using materials or information prepared by commercial interests for promotional programs, and will give a balanced presentation using the best available evidence to support my conclusions and recommendations.”

“Am I dreaming?” asked Capizzi. (She added that this is her own idea and has not been reviewed by any organization.) Judging by the loud applause that accompanied her suggestion, there are many providers who will try to make her dream come true.