Park Nicollet will disclose physician ties to vendors

Park Nicollet Health Services has announced that it will become the first healthcare system in Minnesota to require its physicians to publicly disclose their relationships with pharmaceutical and medical device companies. In doing so, the health system follows dozens of healthcare organizations--notably academic institutions--that have instituted public disclosure requirements.

Executives with Park Nicollet, which has more than 1,400 doctors in its network, said that they believe that patients expect such disclosures. "It's been a growing expectation from the community and our patients that there be transparency," said Dr. Samuel Carlson, the system's chief medical officer.

Such actions put Park Nicollet ahead of Minnesota peers like Allina Hospitals and Clinics and Mayo Clinic. Mayo, for example, informs patients individually if their doctor has financial dealings with a drug or medical device company.

To learn more about Park Nicollet's plans:
- read this Minneapolis Star-Tribune piece [1]

Related Articles:
Congress debates pharma gift disclosure [2]
MedPAC mulls financial relationship disclosure rules [3]
NJ mulls pharma, devicemaker gift reporting [4]
NY bill would require pharmas to report MD gifts [5]