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Medical Device-Related Challenges are Among the Top Health Technology Hazards
By Kelly M . Pyrek
Usability challenges with medical devices in the home as well as insufficient cleaning instructions for medical devices in the healthcare setting have topped the list of nonprofit patient safety organization ECRI ’ s annual detailing of the most pressing health technology safety hazards for 2024 .
The report ’ s data are compiled from the independent medical device evaluations conducted by ECRI , which follows a rigorous review process to select topics , drawing insight from incident investigations , reporting databases , and independent medical device testing .
Evidence shows that more people are receiving medical care at home as the U . S . population ages and the number of adults living with chronic conditions increases . As a result , medical devices such as infusion pumps and ventilators are now being used in the home , sometimes by caregivers and patients who have not been sufficiently trained .
Most medical devices are designed for use by healthcare professionals in a controlled clinical environment and thus may be too complex for laypeople to use safely and effectively , ECRI researchers say .
“ Severe harm can result from the misuse or malfunction of medical devices in the home ,” says Marcus Schabacker , MD , PhD , president and CEO of ECRI . “ Patients and caregivers who misinterpret device readings may feel a false sense of security . Errors may go undetected or unreported , making it difficult to identify problematic trends .”
ECRI researchers have encountered numerous examples of patient harm from home-use devices . Medication errors can occur when changing infusion pumps . Skin injuries can occur when the electrodes from a cardiac monitor are applied incorrectly . Fatalities can occur if a home ventilator alarm fails to activate or goes unheard , or if the venous needle becomes dislodged during use of a hemodialysis machine .
“ When a medical device is designed , it ’ s critical that human factors and the end user be considered ,” Schabacker adds . “ As more patients receive medical care outside hospitals and nursing homes , the reality of modern care settings should influence the design of devices and other supplies we need to keep patients healthy .”
12 • www . healthcarehygienemagazine . com • february 2024