Medical Devices: Developing Effective Post Market Surveillance and Complaint Handling Systems

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    Slide title

    "The Course Director gave very clear, realistic examples of how these topics relate to the industry. He knows his stuff! I was also very happy that he integrated the new EU MDR into the training although it was just released."


    Christina D., Device Safety Mgmt, Bayer 

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    "Very knowledgeable, communicative, experienced instructor. Great take home sources, CD, mini books, etc. Great real-life examples were shared and discussed. Good sense of humor. Very good coordination of visual aids, flow charts, etc. Good Q/A schedules."  


    Tasneem A., QS Auditor, NDC 

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    "This course was great and more on-topic than courses I’ve taken with AAMI. I enjoyed the clever way the material was presented."


    Rachel H., Senior Quality Systems Specialist, ConvergeHEALTH

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    "The Course Director was a very knowledgeable and engaging speaker. Wealth of information for us to consider and take in as we set up our new complaint handling systems."


    Arleen F. VP Quality, Argos Surgical

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Course Director

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Course Fee

$2150.00 Regular Registration

$1950.00 Early Bird Pricing (Register 30 Days in Advance)

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Course Brochure

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Course Description

The last few years have seen significant changes to Medical Device requirements with a far greater focus on Post Market Surveillance and product performance – a direct result of both users and regulatory agencies demanding more transparency to medical device risks and product performance.

Helping focus this greater emphasis on Post Market Surveillance are significant changes to:


  • The EUs Medical Device Regulations replacing the (AI)MDD/IVDD in May 2020.
  • The new regulations including updated and new requirements for Post Market Clinical Follow-up Studies (PMCFS), Clinical Evaluations, Post Market Surveillance Reports (PMSR) and Periodic Safety update Report (PSUR).
  • ISO 13485:2016 Medical Devices - Quality Management Systems standard completing its transition period in March 2019.
  • ISO 14971 Medical Device Risk Management standard - Edition 3 released in December 2019.
  • FDAs CDRH 2018-2020 strategic priorities transitioning from a risk-based framework for medical device regulation to a benefit-risk framework, thus creating greater alignment with EU requirements including consideration of ‘state of the art’.


The 15 hour course provides an understanding of these changes with practical steps for developing, transitioning and implementing systems and procedures to comply with these increasingly more stringent requirements for Medical Devices.

Topics include:


  • Complaint handling & vigilance systems 
  • Medical Device Reporting
  • Post Market Surveillance and Risk Management
  • ISO 14971 its evolution to Edition 3 
  • Implementation challenges
  • Trending requirements and methods
  • Medical device tracking 
  • Impact of post approval studies
  • ISO 13485, cGMP 820, (AI)MDD & MDR
  • Compliance requirements & meeting them 
  • Complaint systems inspections
  • Dos and Don’ts


Throughout the course, examples and case studies together with the extensive resource material provided, help participants apply these important concepts and requirements.

Who Should Attend

This course is intended for medical device professionals involved in post market surveillance, complaint handling, incident reporting and regulatory compliance; others encouraged to attend are professionals in associated disciplines including:



  • Post Market Surveillance
  • Vigilance & Medical Device Reporting
  • Complaint Assessment & Handling
  • Quality Assurance
  • QMS & Compliance Management
  • Risk Management
  • Regulatory Affairs
  • Clinical Affairs
  • Medical Directors
  • Manufacturing
  • Research and Development
  • Recall Coordinators
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  • Learning Objectives

    By the end of this course, participants will:

    • Know the requirements of post market surveillance
    • Understand the similarities & differences between FDA & EU requirements
    • Know the requirements for compliant & effective complaint handling
    • Understand the differences between feedback, complaints & reportable events
    • Know how post approval studies impact post market surveillance requirements
    • Understand the compliance requirements & practical needs for medical device tracking
    • Understand how Quality System requirements are linked to post market surveillance
    • Understand the importance of decision making, escalation & timeliness
    • Understand the challenges of implementing a compliant & effective complaint handling system

  • Agenda


    What is post market surveillance?

    • Terminology: Surveillance, complaint, adverse event...
    • Lifecycle of a medical device
    1. Importance of risk assessment & risk management
    2. Medical device design and manufacture: Relationships with surveillance & complaint handling
    • Conditions of approval & post approval studies
    • Adverse event & vigilance reporting
    • What is a medical device report? GHTF SG2 guidelines

    Requirements and effective strategies for surveillance & complaint handling:

    • Is there a difference between post market surveillance & complaint handling?
    • What is complaint handling?
    1. Parsing complaints from:
    2. Enhancement requests
    3. Personal preferences
    4. Service
    5. Business practices
    6. When does a complaint become a reportable event?
    • Build your business case to management
    • What is Post Market Surveillance if NOT Complaint Handling?
    • Managing complaints and looking at trends
    • Feedback loop to quality system
    • Escalation & evaluation for field action
    1. Risk assessment/management
    2. HHE

    Requirements and effective strategies for medical device reporting:

    • US requirements for reporting
    1. Who does it apply to? Who is exempt?
    2. What is a reportable event?
    3. Reporting timelines
    4. MedWatch, MedSun & MAUDE: Forms 3500, 3500A
    • European (EU) requirements
    1. MDD, AIMD & the new MDR
    2. What is an event?
    3. Reporting timelines
    4. EC Guidelines & vigilance systems
    5. EU: Eudamed & NCAR

    Post approval studies:

    • Post approval/conditions of approval studies
    • Requirements
    • 522 studies (post market surveillance)
    • Registries

    Medical device tracking:

    • What needs to be tracked
    • Usefulness of tracking
    1. UDI: in the US and the EU
    • Requirements for tracking
    1. FDA
    2. EU

    Quality system considerations:

    • More on the feedback loop to quality system
    • Data to monitor, frequency of review
    • Links to key QMS processes:
    1. Risk management
    2. CAPA
    3. Management controls
    • Escalation
    1. Corrections, removals, and recalls
    2. Inspections
    3. Enforcement actions

    Complaint handling system implementation challenges:

    • Records
    • Timeliness
    • Decision making – who decides what?
    • Field service
    • Trending – separating 'real' from 'noise'
    • MDR-reporting & second guessing
    • Global & multiple site implementation
    • International product distribution & reporting

    Related other topics:

    • Pharma & AERS
    • HHE's
    • Competitors & complaints
    • Inspections: Some do's & don'ts

  • Testimonials

    "It was clear that the instructor was passionate about his incredible work. It's crucial, in my opinion, to the teacher's capacity to convey the subject. I enjoyed all topics."

    Maria Z., CEO/Founder, PurHeart


    "The course director uses current information and is extremely knowledgeable about the medical device industry. The part I enjoyed most was that he gave real-life examples that I can take back to my workplace. There was so much information packed in to two days!"

    Stacy P., Quality Specialist, Endo


    "This course was great and more on-topic than courses I’ve taken with AAMI. I enjoyed the clever way the material was presented."

    Rachel H., Senior Quality Systems Specialist, ConvergeHEALTH


    "The course was very detailed about everything in the Agenda. When the instructor was teaching, you could see the picture he was painting without any confusion. He involved the group in every lesson."

    Stephanie W., Compliant Coordinator, Greiner Bio-One


    "The delivery and content fit my needs and preferences perfectly. It was neither too short or too long. Examples and group questions were relevant and engaging."

    Daman C., Compliance Officer, Medical Device Quality, LumiraDx


    "The course material is comprehensive and uses real life examples to drive the point home. The instructor makes the content clear and focuses on the class attendee’s needs and areas of interest."

    Megan W., Qual Mgmt Sys Spec., Medcomp


    "The course material provided will be very useful for later consultation. I enjoyed the exchange of experience with the attendees and the instructor."

    Priscilla C., Product Safety, Neodent


    "The Course Director gave very clear, realistic examples of how these topics relate to the industry. He knows his stuff! I was also very happy that he integrated the new EU MDR into the training although it was just released."

    Christina D., Device Safety Mgmt, Bayer


    "Very knowledgeable, communicative, experienced instructor. Great take home sources, CD, mini books, etc. Great real-life examples were shared and discussed. Good sense of humor. Very good coordination of visual aids, flow charts, etc. Good Q/A schedules."

    Tasneem A., QS Auditor, NDC


    "Instructor 'went the extra mile' by adding Recall discussion to address a student's question. I really liked his approach to asking everyone what they wanted to learn and then following up to make sure everyone's objectives were met. This was an excellent technique."

    Lynn B. Director of Quality, IOGYN


    "Jonathan Lee was a very knowledgeable and engaging speaker. Wealth of information for us to consider and take in as we set up our new complaint handling systems."

    Arleen F. VP Quality, Argos Surgical

Registrant Information:

Each person attending a course will be asked to set up an Attendee Profile Account during the registration process. Creating an Account helps you view your order history and manage your training programs. If you are registering for others, please set up an Account in the Attendee’s name. If you are registering more than one person, you’ll need to set up a separate account for each Attendee.