Appendix 1. Summary of Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) guidance for interaction with
industry
Guidance for maintaining separation of HRS governance from industry
 Annual written disclosure of personal or family relationships by all HRS staff
and members of the HRS board, committees, subcommittees, task forces.
 Disclosure of financial relationships by all CME participants (planning and
faculty disseminating CME material).
 Prohibition of industry members in leadership positions.
 Stringent restriction of industry interactions for the Editor in Chief of the
society’s journal, president and president-elect
Guidance for preventing bias while accepting industry support for meetings
 Companies may not place restrictions or provide guidance on CME
expenditures.
 All disclosure forms from committee members, presenters, and Board of
Trustees must be publicly available on the HRS website.
 HRS must maintain control over CME programs at its meetings.
 HRS must maintain control of its scientific and health policy objectives.
Guidance for disclosure of relationships with industry
 All relationships, even those perceived as modest, should be disclosed.
Guidance for faculty who present CME
 Meeting faculty and HRS leadership are encouraged to complete the National
Faculty Education Initiative to ensure faculty awareness of the difference
between CME and promotional activities.
 Disclosure is required for all participants.
Guidance for travel support
 Meeting organizers should arrange travel without direct linkage to industry.
 If travel is sponsored, this should be disclosed.
Guidance for legislative advocacy
 All HRS activities must be conducted with absolute independence from
industry
Guidance for the writing of scientific and clinic documents
 Guidelines should be developed without financial support from industry
 Authors with industry relationships may not vote, but may participate in
discussions after disclosure; authors may not hold stock, stock options, or
profit financially from the document’s recommendations
Guidance for HRS oversight committee
 Obtains and randomly audits disclosures
 Provides a process for reporting potential violations
 Evaluates complaints
 Levies and enforces sanctions
 Provides a mechanism for the appeal of decisions