[NPInfo] Agreement between Pfizer and the ACC

[Margaret A. Fitzgerald, DNP, NP-C, APRN, BC, FAANP, CSP]

To the leadership of ACC, thank you for your advocacy. Great work!
Dr. Margaret A. Fitzgerald, DNP, FNP-BC, NP-C, FAANP, CSP President, Fitzgerald Health Education Associates, Inc. 85 Flagship Drive North Andover, MA 01845-6154 978.794.8366 FHEA website www.fhea.com FHEA on line store www.fhea.biz peg at fhea.com
FNP, Adjunct Faculty, Family Practice Residency Greater Lawrence (MA) Family Health Center, Inc.

> To: ACC-Circle at listserve.com; PAForum at mc.duke.edu; NPinfo at nurse.net> From: dmittman at comcast.net> Date: Thu, 21 Feb 2008 01:25:59 -0500> Subject: [NPInfo] Agreement between Pfizer and the ACC> > Pfizer/ACC Agreement On "Only your Doctor" Problem.> > N.Y. N.Y. (February 21, 2008)> The American College of Clinicians (ACC) an organization that > advocates for the nurse practitioner and physician assistant > professions is pleased to announce a major agreement with Pfizer > Pharmaceuticals regarding the language used in their direct to > consumer advertising campaigns. This is the second major accord in > the last few months on this issue, the last being with > GlaxoSmithkline. In negotiations which are still being conducted, a > number of agreements were made between Pfizer and the ACC relating to > the problem of identifying who prescribes to the public in > commercials designed to go directly to the consumer (DTC). The issue > concerned phrases that suggest that "doctors" are the only clinicians > who prescribe or the only professionals who are allowed to diagnose > and treat most illnesses. As PAs and NPs are also allowed to diagnose > and prescribe, a high majority of our members felt that these phrases > were inaccurate and are commonly used by many different companies in > their DTC campaigns.> > As a result of these ongoing talks between the ACC and Pfizer, Pfizer > has agreed that commercials that state "Only your doctor can > prescribe" a particular product will be discontinued as these > respective ad campaigns play out. Pfizer also did a complete analysis > of all terms used in medical communications to try to come up with > words that will satisfy all involved about what to label clinicians > who prescribe when communicating with consumers. Because of this > need, the organizations also agreed, in principle, to explore more > consumer-centric solutions to nomenclature, which starts with a poll > of the ACC members and other PAs and NPs to see if they can help us > find a better solution than "healthcare professional" to use in these > direct to consumer commercials. A survey will be posted on the ACC > web site asking their members to try to identify a word to use that > covers all professionals who commonly prescribe medications.> > The ACC commends Pfizer for this action and for listening to the > concerns of the many clinicians who contacted them. We ask that our > members and all PAs and NPs across the country who are visited by > Pfizer representatives take a minute out and thank their > representatives for their company's positive reaction to, and > recognition of, this issue. The American College of Clinicians is a > professional organization representing for both nurse practitioners > and physician assistants.> www.amcollege.org> Here is the link to the title preference survey for DTC advertising.> Please if you are an NP or PA complete the below survey.> http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Jkya17aYV60Jc7fS2u7TIw_3d_3d> > _______________________________________________> NPInfo mailing list> NPInfo at nurse.net> http://lists.nurse.net/mailman/listinfo/npinfo> *****************************