Whether a paid outside activity requires one to take vacation time depends on the activity and the source of payment.
Dr. Scher has said that no one is allowed to do industry sponsored talks.
Payment for outside activities such as moonlighting, industry sponsored advisory committees, or expert legal work, require that the individual be working on their own time (vacation or authorized time away).
Exceptions for advisory committees and similar activities can be made if the funds are directed to the division. I am willing to hold such funds on account for that individual’s use for CME trips or similar professional activities.
If a senior staff individual is invited to give a grand rounds, a seminar, or other educational activity, and if the physician receives travel reimbursement and a stipend for their time from an educational institution where the funds are not tied to an industry source, they will be allowed to participate. An example would be an invitation to do grand rounds at a teaching hospital. Such time away should be indicated as conference. The division should encourage such activities.
If someone is asked to give legal testimony on the part of a Henry Ford patient and is to receive payment (an example would be an occupational lawsuit where the physician is an advocate for the patient), the physician should coordinate this with division administration and the funds would go to Henry Ford based on our fee schedules. The time spent in a case like this would be normal work time.
All outside activities should be accounted for when making disclosures for potential conflicts of interest to the health care system.