Acting with integrity

Johnson & Johnson (J&J)-bedrijven staan wereldwijd bekend om de waarden die gehanteerd worden bij de ontwikkeling van innovatieve en dikwijls levensreddende geneesmiddelen voor patiënten. Ons Credo, de J&J Policy on Business Conduct en de J&J Health Care Business Integrity Guide benadrukken het engagement dat de patiënten op de eerste plaats komen. En dat alles wat het bedrijf en zijn medewerkers doen, overeenstemt met de wetten en regels in de verschillende landen en markten waar ze actief zijn.
Janssen-medewerkers die in contact komen met zorgverstrekkers en met overheden, moeten zich houden aan de principes in de Health Care Business Integrity (HCBI) Guide. Die focust op:
- legale promotie van gereguleerde producten;
- naleving (compliance) van de gezondheidszorg- en anti-corruptiewetgeving, regelingen en industriële codes;
- geen beïnvloeding van medische en overheidsbeslissingen op basis van verkeerde, onvolledige of onduidelijke informatie.
Het gaat hierbij om integer handelen. Concreet gaat het onder meer om de ondersteuning van onderzoek, adviesverlening door artsen, medische opleiding, artsenbezoeken, bedrijfsbezoeken, communicatie, geschenken, onderzoeksbeurzen en wetenschappelijke bijeenkomsten.
Deze principes zijn consistent met de verantwoordelijkheden en waarden zoals die gedefinieerd zijn in Ons Credo en de J&J Policy on Business Conduct. Ze zijn essentieel voor de effectiviteit van het complianceprogramma.
Belangrijk in het kader van compliance zijn de Health Care Compliance (HCC)-trainingen, die focussen op het kennen van de regels in verband met stakeholdercontacten. Het Benelux HCC-team ontwikkelde een interactief 'serious game' rond Health Care Compliance. Dit spel laat de spelers een realistisch HCC-scenario, inclusief bijkomende dilemma’s, ervaren. De keuzes die de speler maakt, hebben een invloed op de uitkomst van het spel. Janssen wil met het spel de discussie openen over de zogenaamde ‘grijze zones’ in HCC-situaties en de manier waarop medewerkers daarmee omgaan.

Learn by playing
Health Care Compliance (HCC) training courses, which focus on knowing the rules regarding customer contacts are important in the context of compliance. Little or no attention is paid to the factors that influence how someone deals with HCC dilemmas. In other words: his or her integrity conduct. Thus factors such as a sense of duty (how sensitive you are to the influence of others) and frankness (the amount of pressure you consciously or unconsciously exert on others) should not be underestimated.
From this conviction, the Benelux HCC team, together with two suppliers, starting thinking in 2011 about a real HCC game. An exciting development path led to an innovative training concept: an interactive "serious game" around Health Care Compliance.
The HCC Experience game lets players experience a realistic HCC scenario via an iPad or PC. They are drawn into the story and become an active part of it.
The choices you make determine the outcome of the game. This may be positive but it may also be disturbing.
The HCC Experience game is not an examination. There is no intention either to assess the number of correct answers. Instead Janssen wants to open up the discussion around so-called "grey areas" in HCC situations and how employees deal with these. A workshop provides the necessary support; the players immediately gain an insight into their own profile.
Results and
reactions
In the meanwhile some 180 employees in the Benelux were able to become familiar with the HCC Experience game. All sales, marketing and medical teams in the Benelux have been offered the chance to take part in the four-hour long workshops. The kick-off generated enthusiastic reactions: "An exciting new way to train in HCC dilemmas", "Attractive", "Realistic", "The best HCC training I ever received.".

Other departments, such as Finance and HEMAR, took note of this. They were also keen to try out the new method. We are now thinking about developing follow-up material to use during team meetings.
The concept of the game as a training method to influence conduct is entirely consistent with the worldwide training strategies of Janssen around "Health Care Compliance." This innovative project will be rolled out more widely after a few adjustments. The Global Operations department is currently researching some potential follow-up steps.
This training is most relevant to our researchers who have contact with academics and who wish to act with integrity when publishing their results. The employees in Phase IV studies and those who are in contact with care providers and the authorities follow this training so they do not use influencing and “off label” promotion. Virtually all employees involved in this took this course during 2012.