ASGE Recognized Industry Associate (ARIA) Training Program OPEN | October 2025-Role of the industry representative in the practice of GI and endoscopy_2024_GIE_Vol 99

Role of the industry representative in the practice of GI and endoscopy_2024_GIE_Vol 99_3

Pdf Summary

This guideline, prepared by the ASGE ARIA Committee, updates the role and responsibilities of industry representatives in gastroenterology and GI endoscopy practice. Industry representatives—including equipment/device sales, service specialists, pharmaceutical reps, and scientific liaisons—play key roles in supporting clinicians with new technologies, devices, and therapeutics. Their involvement ranges from educating and training endoscopy staff on device use and safety, assisting with intraprocedural technical support, to facilitating introduction and evaluation of new products under institutional oversight.<br /><br />Patient safety, professionalism, and confidentiality are paramount. Institutions must establish policies regulating industry representative presence, including health screening, identification display, compliance with privacy laws (e.g., HIPAA), and patient consent for their involvement. Industry representatives should strictly maintain a non-interventional, observational role without engaging in medical decisions or direct patient care.<br /><br />The COVID-19 pandemic greatly disrupted in-person interactions between industry representatives and providers due to infection risks and evolving practice structures favoring larger group or hospital employment, often led by administrators focused on cost-effectiveness. With lifting of COVID restrictions, in-person collaboration is resuming, valued for improved communication and education.<br /><br />Effective partnership requires industry representatives to possess comprehensive knowledge of gastroenterology, endoscopic procedures, device function, and the relevant diseases their products target. The ASGE Recognized Industry Associate (ARIA) program offers structured education and hands-on training to equip representatives. Since 2015, ARIA has trained over 1000 representatives, demonstrating improved competency to enable them to better serve healthcare teams.<br /><br />In summary, industry representatives are vital resources who contribute to advancing digestive healthcare and patient outcomes through technical support and education. Adherence to institutional policies, regulatory compliance, role clarity, and formalized specialized training ensure that collaborations are ethical, safe, and optimized for patient benefit. The guideline encourages healthcare providers and institutions to reinforce these standards and foster effective, transparent partnerships with industry representatives in both endoscopy units and ambulatory clinics.

Keywords

ASGE ARIA Committee

industry representatives

gastroenterology

GI endoscopy

device training

patient safety

HIPAA compliance

COVID-19 impact

ARIA program

healthcare collaboration