The devices also make it easier to ensure that sales reps are appropriately distributing drug samples to doctors, and correctly handling physician requests for medical information, according to the Wall Street Journal. The system requires the Pfizer sales rep to enter a doctor's name, and the tablet then displays a list of preapproved products that the sales rep can promote and give samples for, based on the physician's specialty and the approved uses of Pfizer's meds. The rep wouldn't be able to provide a sample to a doctor that's likely to prescribe the med for off-label use.

That's critical because Pfizer recently paid a record $2.3 billion to settle government charges that it illegally promoted its former pain drug Bextra for uses not approved by U.S. regulators and improperly marketed other products for "off-label" uses. Drug makers are generally barred from promoting off-label use of their drugs, though doctors have the discretion to prescribe them in this way. Improper distribution of samples and handling of doctors' medical inquiries were among the ways the government said Pfizer salespeople conducted off-label promotion.

Pfizer admitted to off-label promotion of Bextra and pledged to do better—and the tablet PCs will play a role. Pfizer in August entered into a "corporate integrity agreement" with the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. One of the pact's provisions is that Pfizer must use its tablet-PC system to essentially monitor its sales reps.

source: http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2009/12/pfizer_equips_s.html;jsessionid=XZAZAB21WX201QE1GHPCKH4ATMY32JVN