Conflicts of Interest in Clinical Practice: Cleveland Clinic Policy and Experience.

The Cleveland Clinic Innovation Management and Conflict of Interest ("IM&COI") Program implemented a policy on Conflicts of Interest in Clinical Practice in 2013. The policy requires review of financial interests greater than $20,000 in a year, or more than 5% equity in a company, when the clinician is prescribing or using products of the company with which they have a relationship. The IM&COI Committee developed definitions for low, medium and high levels of annual compensation and risk and uses a "Matrix" to guide disclosure based on these factors.