Desert Foot Conference had to change their conference so VA doctors could attend

Here is the email that was sent out it is pretty clear there was an investigation at the VA and people got in trouble

In an effort to be in full compliance with the VA’s Ethics Rules and allow VA healthcare professionals to attend the 2018 Desert Foot Conference with confidence and no ethical violations, Desert Foot has instituted new Policy Changes as of July 18, 2018 (see below). After these Policy Changes were implemented, a Staff Attorney/Ethics Official from the VA Office of General Counsel replied to a COI inquiry from a VA podiatrist, that in light of these new Desert Foot Policy Changes, VA podiatrists may now attend Desert Foot without concern that they are breaching any VA Ethics or COI policy , as long as they are attending as an Attendee, not as a Presenter. Presenters fall under different guidelines.

Please share this message containing the Desert Foot Policy Changes along with your completed COI Questionnaire with the Staff Attorney/Ethics Official in your VA, so that you can receive clearance to attend Desert Foot with peace of mind and without concern regarding violation of Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees. You have also been advised to speak to your immediate supervisor to be briefed on the VA ethics rules and we at PRESENT advise you to do so. As mentioned above, make sure to bring the new Desert Foot Policy Changes with you when you speak to your supervisor. It has always been PRESENT’s policy to fully comply with every – single – one of the VA requirements as we become aware of them and we will continue to put forth new policy changes to meet and comply with all ethical standards.

Desert Foot Conference Policy Changes

The following policy changes have been implemented for the 2018 Desert Foot Conference to fully satisfy VA Federal Conflict of Interest Laws and the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees:

1. All attendees will be required to pay a $99 registration fee to avoid the perception that some attendees are receiving a discount or gift

2. VA faculty will be required to obtain prior written approval before being accepted to participate

3. No honorarium payments will be provided for any participation by VA faculty

4. The abstract/poster session will no longer be awarded cash prizes. First, second, and third place winners will be recognized and awarded certificates during the award ceremony in the main Lecture Hall

5. There will be no gift cards or monetary awards given out at the conference

Existing Desert Foot Policy includes:

1. Exhibitors are not permitted to take any attendee out of the conference during conference hours

2. Attendees and exhibitors meeting before or after conference hours are to abide by the VA policy and their own company’s policy on ethical behavior

3. We meticulously follow the CME/CECH/CE standards of the Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME), the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)

In the section below, we have provided you with information to help with your submission of the Conflict of Interest (COI) Questionnaire to receive permission/clearance to attend this year’s Desert Foot Medical Education Conference.

Completing Your COI Outside Activity Questionnaire for Desert Foot 2018

If you are required to complete a COI Questionnaire, we have provided guidance below. It appears that different facilities may use different forms, so our guidance will be of a general nature.

If you are asked if you do research funded by the VA or any outside agency, answer factually. Desert Foot does no research of its own, but research may be presented at the conference. If you are asked if you have any contracting or purchasing responsibilities for VA or are involved with contracting or purchasing, answer factually. If you are asked what the nature of the business of the Outside Entity is, or why Outside Entity solicited you to participate in the activity, — “Desert Foot is a nationally recognized medical conference attended by both VA and non-VA healthcare professionals that provides continuing medical education and continuing medical education credits.” If you are asked if the Outside Entity markets products that VA employees and others use in medical practice, — “The Desert Foot Medical Education Conference provides an exhibit hall for medical suppliers to share their clinical data regarding their products and services. There are many competing medical products marketed at the Desert Foot Conference, no more or less than other podiatric or medical conferences including the annual conferences of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and the American Podiatric Medical Association.” If you are asked any questions about conveying any new information that is not in the public domain, as a presenter may do, — “I am attending this educational activity as an attendee, not a presenter. Finally, if you are asked if the Outside Entity has any interests that may be affected by the way that you do your job, — “Desert Foot is a Medical Education Conference for both VA and non-VA healthcare professionals and has no interests that may be affected substantially by the performance or non-performance of official duties of any attendees, VA or Non-VA.”.

We look forward to seeing you at the 2018 Desert Foot Conference, taking place November 7 – 10, for another great educational experience to improve patient outcomes.

PRESENT e-Learning Systems
Conference Management

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