NAPLES, Florida – Medical technology companies soon will be able to self-certify that they adhere to the highest ethical standards and have strong compliance mechanisms in place under a program approved by the board of directors of the Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed; Washington) at the group's annual meeting here last week.

The board voted to further encourage adoption of the AdvaMed Code of Ethics for Interactions with Health Care Professionals by authorizing use of an “AdvaMed Code Logo“ by device manufacturers that adopt compliance policies consistent with the code and maintain “a robust compliance infrastructure.“

Under the program, companies that certify that they meet the eight items outlined in a “Conditions of Use“ agreement will be granted a license to display the logo on their corporate web sites, business cards, displays and other marketing materials. The eight elements of the agreement, according to AdvaMed, “align with the Office of the Inspector General Compliance Program Effectiveness Standards and outline specific programs and processes firms must maintain to ensure effective compliance.“

To reinforce that a company's commitment to ethical practices must originate at the highest levels, AdvaMed will require that the Conditions of Use certification be signed by “a high-ranking corporate executive.“

Stephen Ubl, president and CEO of AdvaMed, said, “Development of the Code Logo and self-certification program is the latest example of our industry taking a leadership role when it comes to ethical practices and compliance. Now, at a glance, healthcare professionals can know they are dealing with a company that is committed to the highest ethical standards and has solid compliance programs in place.“

— Don Long, Managing Editor