The UMass Memorial policy is based on the following key principles:
- Demonstrate leadership among academic medical centers in an approach to relationships with vendors
- Ensure objectivity and integrity in all decisions in fact and in appearance, including those related to:
- Patients and the quality of their care
- Clinical research
- Teaching
- Business matters
- Maintain public confidence in the quality of care and evidence-based treatment provided by UMass Memorial clinicians
- Preserve appropriate industry support for clinical research, continuing medical education and other patient care purposes, which advances the UMass Memorial mission but does not compromise the above principles
Summary of Key Policy Positions
In general, no gifts, sponsorship or anything of value of any kind may be accepted from any vendor of clinical supplies or services by any UMass Memorial clinical employee, including nurses, technicians, pharmacists, employed physicians, residents, fellows, medical students and others, or by any contractor acting on behalf of UMass Memorial unless the gift or sponsorship meets a specific exception listed below.
- Gifts, meals and entertainment: It is prohibited for any vendor of clinical supplies or services (direct or indirect) to offer or for UMass Memorial clinical employees to accept any gifts, meals or entertainment at any time, at any location, regardless of value.
- Speakers bureaus: It is prohibited for UMass Memorial clinical employees to participate in any industry speakers bureaus.
- Sponsored meetings and training:
- UMass Memorial appreciates any sponsorship provided by our vendor community to support our educational activities.
- All such vendor/industry support must be processed through the UMass Memorial Foundation. These funds/sponsorships may be restricted to use by a clinical department for educational purposes, but may not be restricted beyond the departmental level (i.e. to a clinical division, faculty member, or specific meeting or program).
- All educational events and associated agendas are determined by UMass Memorial.
- Vendors are prohibited from:
- Bringing any food into any UMass Memorial facility or to any event sponsored by UMass Memorial off-campus. Vendors are also prohibited from paying for such food except through charitable contributions through the UMass Memorial Foundation.
- Bringing any product information to any UMass Memorial event which is not specifically requested by UMass Memorial faculty or other clinical personnel and which information is not specifically related to the educational event
- Distributing or leaving any product information at or on UMass Memorial premises which is not specifically requested by UMass Memorial clinical personnel
- Drug Samples:
- All drug samples delivered to UMass Memorial Medical Center must:
- Be approved as part of the Drug Sample Formulary by the Pharmacy Department
- Be delivered to the Pharmacy Department at the respective Medical Center campus (University, Memorial or Hahnemann) unless specifically approved by the Pharmacy Department. Vendors are prohibited from leaving any drug samples in any physician office at UMass Memorial Medical Center unless specifically approved by the Pharmacy Department.
- Access to UMass Memorial Facilities:
- Vendors are required to:
- Register in the UMass Memorial Vendormate program (unless specifically instructed by a UMass Memorial Senior Vice President to register otherwise)
- Wear and display UMass Memorial Vendormate identification badges at all times that they are present in any UMass Memorial Medical Center location. Each time the vendor visits a Medical Center campus they are required to print a badge from the above web site.
- Vendors are expressly prohibited from entering:
- Any patient care area without prior express approval of a faculty member. Only device company representatives expressly requested by a faculty member to provide training or advise during a procedure should ever be in a clinical/patient care area of the Medical Center.
- Any UMass Memorial Medical Center facility without an appointment with a faculty member or other clinical personnel confirmed in advance.