AMBOSS has processes in place to ensure that all CME content it provides is independent and free of bias from any commercial interests (ineligible companies). These processes are in compliance with the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education and are conducted in the following order.
1. Identification of financial relationships
- All individuals who have any element of control over CME content are required to disclose information annually about all financial relationships with ineligible companies in the past 24 months.
- The nature of the relationship and the name of the ineligible company must be disclosed.
- Relationships must be disclosed regardless of the amount involved.
- An ineligible company, previously known as a commercial interest, is defined as any entity whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. (Examples include medical device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, and advertising, marketing, or communication firms whose clients are ineligible companies.)
- This information is collected on a standardized form, and all forms are maintained on file.
- Individuals who decline to disclose this information are not permitted to be involved with any aspect of CME content.
2. Exclusion of owners or employees of ineligible companies
Individuals who own or are employed by an ineligible company are prohibited from having control over or involvement with any aspect of AMBOSS CME content unless the CME content has no relation to the business lines or products of their employer/company. AMBOSS is responsible for determining if there is a relation between CME content and the business lines and/or products of the employer/company.
3. Identification and mitigation of relevant financial relationships
- Disclosures are reviewed to determine whether an individual has a financial relationship that is relevant to the CME content over which the individual has control.
- If a relevance is identified, it is evaluated and mitigated as appropriate to the individual’s role. In these cases, AMBOSS will utilize one of the following mitigation mechanisms: peer review of planning decisions by non-conflicted individual; content review (with modification of content if necessary) by a non-conflicted individual; a formal reminder of policies and instructions; or divestiture of the relationship; limiting the individual’s role; removal and replacement of the individual.
4. Disclosure of relevant financial disclosure
- Disclosures of the existence or non-existence of relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies for all content contributors provided for all accredited content
- Where a relevant financial relationship exists, the name of the individual, the name of the ineligible company, and the nature of the relationship is disclosed.
Additionally, AMBOSS includes a Disclosure Policy Statement to confirm that all relevant financial relationships have been mitigated:
AMBOSS adheres to the policies and guidelines, including the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited CE, set forth to providers by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and all other professional organizations, as applicable, stating those activities where continuing education credits are awarded must be balanced, independent, objective, and scientifically rigorous. All persons in a position to control the content of an accredited continuing education program provided by AMBOSS are required to disclose all financial relationships with any ineligible company within the past 24 months to AMBOSS. All financial relationships reported are identified as relevant and mitigated by AMBOSS in accordance with the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited CE, in advance of delivery of the activity to learners. The content of this activity was vetted by AMBOSS to assure objectivity and that the activity is free of commercial bias. All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated by AMBOSS.
For questions or feedback related to the AMBOSS CME program, please email us at hello@amboss.com.