As a MedStar Health patient, how am I impacted by physicians' interactions with Industry?
Most physician interactions with industry are positive and necessary to expand knowledge, drive innovation, improve quality of care, and promote our educational, clinical, and research missions. MedStar Health monitors all interactions with industry and manages them in order to avoid any negative impact, or perception of negative impact, upon the delivery of patient care and other aspects of services provided by the MedStar Health system.
How and why will I benefit from my physician interacting with the Industry?
MedStar Health patients will benefit from physicians' expanded knowledge, increased innovation, improved quality of care, and research advances, gained from appropriate and ethical interactions with Industry.
I see my doctor's name on this list, what does that mean?
Your doctor is listed because he/she disclosed his/her (or an immediate family member's) interaction with Industry. This information is provided to make you aware of the interaction and to inform you that it is a MedStar Health accepted and monitored interaction, or it would have been prevented or terminated.
Who is a “Covered Individual” at MedStar Health that needs to disclose Conflicts of Interest?
MedStar Health’s Conflict of Interests and Interactions with Industry policy applies to all officers and directors, full and part-time associates, employed physicians and independent contractors, faculty and teaching staff, residents, fellows, students, and any individual with material decision making responsibilities. Annually, MedStar Health conducts a mandatory conflict of interests disclosure process for all members of its Officers and Directors, all managers, all physicians both employed and contract, and anyone with a significant involvement in teaching or purchasing activities. Fellows, residents, students, and non-managerial associates are generally not required to participate in the annual disclosure process because they do not have material decision making responsibilities, however, they are subject to all relevant policies.
What must be disclosed?
Respondents must disclose interactions with industry (outside interests) that involve payments or other receipt of value and must report material ownership or investment interests in Industry. Respondents must also report any conflicts of commitment, i.e., engagements beyond their responsibilities at MedStar Health that may involve use of the same skills they employ at MedStar Health, or may involve an engagement with a MedStar Health competitor or potential competitor. Refer to permissible and non-permissible interactions with industry elsewhere on this website.
How often conflicts of interests are disclosed and to whom are they disclosed?
MedStar Health associates are required to obtain approval prior to engaging in interactions with Industry. Also, MedStar Health conducts an annual mandatory conflict of interests disclosure process for all board directors, company officers, managers, employed and contract physicians, and anyone with a significant involvement in teaching or purchasing activities. MedStar Health physicians and other associates who engage in research activities are required to disclose interactions with industry on an ongoing basis. This information is included in grant proposals for specific research projects. An oversight committee reviews any research-related conflicts and potential conflicts that are reported or identified.
How are disclosures reviewed to identify and address conflicts?
MedStar Health involves several levels of management in reviewing respondent disclosures including compliance directors, entity vice presidents for medical affairs (chief medical officers), entity chief operating officers, entity counsel, corporate general counsel, and the corporate executive vice president for medical affairs. The complexity of the disclosure will determine the level of review.
Additional information
Contact MedStar's Office of Corporate Business Integrity at 410-772-6579 or complianceofficer@medstar.net if you have questions or concerns regarding the MedStar Health Conflict of Interest Disclosures.