UChicago Medicine is deeply committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards and integrity within its corporate culture, particularly when it comes to complying with healthcare laws and regulations. This dedication is fundamental to supporting our core missions of patient care, groundbreaking research, and comprehensive medical education.
Many of our esteemed physicians and health professionals, including individuals like Doctor Goldman, collaborate with external entities such as pharmaceutical and medical device companies. These collaborations are crucial for the development of innovative treatments and products aimed at enhancing patient outcomes. In some cases, physicians may have ownership interests in these external organizations or receive compensation for their expertise in advising or speaking about the entities’ offerings. This compensation can take various forms, including fees for consulting and speaking engagements, equity stakes, or royalties from physician-invented products.
To ensure objectivity and maintain the integrity of patient care, UChicago Medicine has a strict policy requiring all physicians and health professionals to annually disclose their relationships and financial interests with external entities. This reported information is carefully reviewed to identify relationships and transactions that could potentially create financial conflicts of interest. When a significant potential conflict is identified, a detailed management plan is developed to mitigate any potential biases and safeguard patient care.
For patients at UChicago Medicine who wish to gain a clearer understanding of their physician’s external relationships, open communication is encouraged. We recommend initiating a conversation with your physician, such as Doctor Goldman, to discuss any questions or concerns you may have. Furthermore, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Open Payments website (https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov/) provides a valuable public resource. CMS Open Payments is a national program designed to increase transparency within the healthcare system. It features a publicly accessible database that details payments made by reporting entities, including pharmaceutical and medical device companies, to covered recipients like physicians and hospitals.
It is important to note that the information available in the CMS Open Payments database may, on occasion, contain data that is not entirely accurate or up-to-date. Additionally, the data is open to individual interpretation. Therefore, if patients or their advocates have questions or require clarification regarding the data, direct communication with their healthcare provider remains the most effective way to gain a comprehensive and accurate understanding.
