Continuing Medical Education

Commercial Exhibit and Vendor Guidelines

The CME activity consists of all functions associated with an activity designated for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ including all peripheral functions such as refreshments and displays. Any function that is present because of the CME activity in the same location as the activity must be considered part of the CME activity. Therefore, all peripheral functions are regulated by CME guidelines.

Exhibits

An exhibitor is defined as a company that has purchased a display booth as an advertisement. Commercial exhibits and advertisements are promotional functions. Therefore, the monies are not considered to be “commercial support.”

Exhibitors cannot influence the planning of an activity, interfere with the presentation, or require that the exhibit be a condition for commercial support. The school’s CME committee is ultimately responsible for control and selection of the planning committee, presenters and moderators.


Placement

Exhibit placement must not interfere with the presentation of activities. CME participants must not be compelled to visit exhibits.

Advertisements and promotional materials may not be displayed or distributed in the educational space at any time.  No product advertisements will be permitted in the same room or obligatory path of the educational activity. Exhibit placement must not be a condition of support for the CME activity.

Contributor representatives may attend an educational activity under the following conditions:

  • They may not engage in sales activities while in the room where the activity takes place
  • They must remove their company name badges while in the meeting room
  • When space and materials are limited, company representatives need to defer to non-commercial registrants.

Funds

Exhibit/Vendor opportunities for meeting sites in Ohio have a market value between $500 and $2000. Exhibit fees shall be set by the activity director for each activity prior to solicitation and will be standard for that activity. The activity director may set different fees for industry, not-for-profit organizations/foundations and publishers. Potential exhibitors shall have equal access to purchasing exhibit space (first come, first served).

CME coordinators may only assess market value for display opportunities. The determination of market value considers:

  • Actual cost of arranging display space
  • Size and profession of audience
  • Location of meeting site and display area
  • Size of display space
  • Cost of participating in food and beverage functions
  • Cost of providing educational materials

Market value should not consider:

  • Vendor’s financial offers
  • Vendor’s approval of an educational grant
  • Relationships between vendors, CME coordinators, or activity faculty
  • Access to mailing list or registration lists

All monies must be paid with the full knowledge and approval of the school’s CME committee. No other funds from the company will be paid to the activity administrator, speaker or others involved with the activity. Exhibitor income requires an exhibitor agreement to document the terms, conditions and purposes of the contribution.

All funds must adhere to the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support.  Checks should be made payable to: Wright State University Foundation, Tax ID: 23-7019799.


Social Events

Commercially supported social events before or after CME activities will not compete with nor take precedence over educational content.

Last edited on 01/29/2015.