Off-the-Shelf Compliance Training: Myth vs. Reality

Myth #1: Off-the-Shelf Training Doesn’t Align with My Content Requirements

Welcome to the first installment of our series on the myths and realities associated with off-the-shelf compliance training. In each post, we will dive into one commonly heard myth concerning the pros and cons of using off-the-shelf eLearning to reduce compliance risk in the life sciences industry. We begin this week with the frequent lament, “off-the-shelf training doesn’t align with my content requirements.”

The Myth 

Multiple presenters at the 2019 Pharmaceutical Compliance Congress emphasized the importance of targeting training to the audience. As one speaker said, “scientists are not going find value in training that features scenarios with sales representatives.” He ended his comments by saying that is why he only uses custom-developed training.

In addition, in its recently updated guidance on the evaluation of corporate compliance programs, the Department of Justice emphasizes the need for “appropriately tailored training and communications.” When describing what prosecutors should take into consideration when evaluating a company’s program, the DOJ asks, “has the company provided tailored training for high-risk and control employees, including training that addresses risk in the area where the misconduct occurred?”

Clearly, government regulators and industry leaders recognize the importance of targeting training to the roles and risks associated with individual learner groups. And the belief that only fully-custom training can meet those requirements is predictable and understandable.

But is it reality?

The Case for Off-the-Shelf

While I agree wholeheartedly about the need to target the audience and use role-appropriate content, well-designed off-the-shelf training allows for extensive customization, in a streamlined, cost-efficient manner.

Consider Healthcare Compliance Overview, a module from our library of Compliance Foundations eLearning courses. The module covers a broad range of commercial compliance topics, including the False Claims Act, off-label promotion, HIPAA, good product promotion, and the Anti-Kickback Statute so our clients typically launch it to their full staffs. Most of our clients customize the content to reflect the needs of specific learner groups, e.g. sales, medical, clinical, and corporate. Since the modules are built in a “templated” format, the process is simplified and the cost is less than custom-developed training.

Healthcare Compliance Overview features knowledge checks instructionally designed to reinforce key objectives throughout the module. The knowledge checks are often written in the form of scenarios that reflect “real-life” experiences some learner groups are likely to face in their daily activities. Since the modules are so easy to customize, our clients roll out multiple “versions” of the module, each one tailored to the appropriate audience. The result: highly professional and engaging customized compliance training at less cost than custom training.

The Bottom Line

Custom development certainly offers the opportunity to tailor compliance training to various learner groups within a life sciences company, but it comes with a steep price and lengthy development timeline. Delivering appropriately targeted off-the-shelf compliance training throughout the company is not only possible, but it is often the optimal solution based on budget and time frame. Just be sure the off-the-shelf training offers the right level of flexibility.

Launching off-the-shelf compliance training, customized for your learners, is a simple four-step process with PharmaCertify:

1. Review your risks and goals with our team.
2. Select from our Compliance Foundations curriculum.
3. Make our content your content through the customization process.
4. Launch your training!

Contact me at smurphy@nxlevelsolutions.com to learn more about our customization process.

Thanks for reading!