As a provider accredited by the Massachusetts Medical Society, Lowell General Hospital must ensure balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all its individually and jointly provided educational activities. All individuals in a position/role to control the content of an activity are expected to disclose to Lowell General Hospital any relevant financial relationships they and their spouse/partner have with commercial interests.
The ACCME defines a commercial interest as any entity producing, marketing, reselling or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients. Relevant financial relationships are financial relationships in any amount, which occurred in the twelve-month period preceding the time that the individual was asked to assume a role controlling content of the CME activity, and which relate to the content of the educational activity.
Financial relationships are those relationships in which the individual benefits by receiving a salary, royalty, intellectual property rights, consulting fee, honoraria, ownership interest (e.g., stocks, stock options or other ownership interest, excluding diversified mutual funds), or other financial benefit. Financial benefits are usually associated with roles such as independent contractor (including contracted research), consulting, promotional speaking and teaching, membership on advisory committees or review panels, board membership, and other activities for which remuneration is received or expected. The MMS/ACCME considers relationships of the person involved in the CME activity to also include financial relationships of a spouse or partner.