WHAT WERE YOUR BEST AND WORST EXPERIENCES WITH A DRUG OR DEVICE REP?
Jeanine B. Downie, MD, FAAD: My worst experience was with a rep a few years ago who was very sexist and used to comment that women should all look like Sarah Palin and stay home and have five or six kids. Of course, this ignored the fact I was not a stay-at-home mom. The level of flagrant sexism that he displayed at each visit was shocking. He would try to give us inappropriate gifts to make up for his transgressions; We would never accept those gifts.
Gregory A. Buford, MD, FACS: For the most part, I have had very good experiences with drug reps. I find a majority of them to be great at what they do and respectful of what I do. However, that is not always the case.
A few years ago, I had a rep whose ego was ridiculously inflated and who felt that he was far smarter than any medical professional. He would argue with me at length about products and procedures and would never take the time to actually listen…I actually stopped using his products based upon this and the fact that there were other competing products equally as effective that I could use and not have to deal with him.
The other rep is a medical device rep who is still with his company. A few years ago, I was scheduling surgery for a potential client. When he got wind of this, he actually offered to comp implants for this patient (who was also a friend of mine) in exchange for her using another doctor. When I found out about it, I immediately contacted his supervisor and let him know that I would never work with that rep again.
Another pet peeve I have is when a rep badmouths another product or procedure. If your product really is good then it should stand on its own merits and not require you to dismantle other similar products.
Jennifer Walden, MD, FACS: The breast implant reps in my area are wonderful and knowledgeable about their products; they value relationships, which is what it is all about. They are also knowledgeable about the regulatory aspect of industry and are responsive to my needs. It's too bad when turnover occurs after developing relationships with the good industry reps.
My recent negative experience was with a person working with a relatively new company to whom I hand returned a product, since I knew I wasn't going to use it. Apparently for commission-seeking reasons, I kept getting charged for it; despite multiple phone calls to the rep and others...it was only after my phone call to the vice-president of the company that the charge was immediately withdrawn and several key folks from the company traveled to Austin to smooth things over with me. That rep no longer works with the company.
DO YOU HAVE POLICIES REGARDING GIFTS TO YOU, YOUR PRACTICE, OR YOUR STAFF?
Dr. Downie: We do not have a formal policy concerning gifts. However, if the gift is over $50 we tend not to accept it. We mainly get food from our patients, such as chocolate.
WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THE SUNSHINE ACT?
Dr. Walden: I think over-regulation by federal government burdens us all, and the experienced and knowledgeable reps all too often get enticed away by others.
Dr. Downie: My take on the Sunshine Act is that it will confuse patients and aggravate competitors. What I mean by this exactly is patients will not understand the extent of some of our consulting contracts etc., and may see conflict when there really is none. Our competitors may also see conflict and create confusion where there does not need to be any.
Dr. Buford: The Sunshine Act is absolutely ridiculous. First, it is no one else's business how I spend my spare time and how much I am compensated for it. While someone else is eating dinner with their family, I am in another state giving a dinner talk, sleeping at a mediocre hotel, and catching an early flight back home so that I can work again first thing in the morning. And when I consult on weekends, I am using spare time that is mine alone. I find it insulting that I have to disclose exactly how much I am compensated for both speaking as well as incidentals. As far as I know, this happens in no other profession. I would love for attorneys and for politicians to disclose the same thing and make it public, but I doubt that will ever happen.
On the other hand, I don't mind disclosing the fact that I do consult and for whom; it just doesn't make sense to disclose how much I am compensated for it. That is no one else's business but my own.
Joe Niamtu, III, DMD: I really have not had any significant changes due to the Act. Actually the only thing that I have noticed is that I am signing more disclaimers with various companies and that they are declaring small things that we would not have thought about prior. I think they are trying to comply and walk the line.
Ready to Claim Your Credits?
You have attempts to pass this post-test. Take your time and review carefully before submitting.
Good luck!
