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Reputable manufacturers can provide highquality guidance on application of their devices and should demonstrate a willingness to understand the facility ’ s needs .”
— Mairead Smith
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Smith advises healthcare organizations to avail themselves of the information and resources that ECRI has provided in its report , including publications by ECRI and IUVA . “ Once purchasing organizations understand the limitations of UV light , they should take the time to define their goals , consider the types of devices that are available , and speak with several manufacturers about the capabilities and requirements of their devices ,” Smith adds . “ Reputable manufacturers can provide high-quality guidance on application of their devices and should demonstrate a willingness to understand the facility ’ s needs .”
As we have seen , COVID-19 is driving or contributing to many of the healthcare hazards on ECRI ’ s 2021 hazards list , and as Robert Schluth , principal project officer at ECRI emphasizes , “ The COVID-19 pandemic brought about a period of unprecedented stresses and rapid technological changes . That can be fertile ground for hazards to develop ,” he says . “ To meet the urgent needs of patients while coping with resource shortages and time pressures , shortcuts may be taken or unproven devices or techniques may be used . In
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that environment , it ’ s more important than ever to have robust processes for identifying , reporting , and investigating device incidents and near misses . Healthcare organizations with such programs will be better positioned to identify trouble spots and take corrective action — ideally before significant harm occurs .”
Schluth continues , “ Communication across disciplines will likewise be key , as organizations transition from just trying to cope during an emergency to building stronger and more resilient processes . The pandemic has stretched and strained and altered the healthcare system in ways that may have lasting effects . Teams from across the healthcare spectrum will need to work together to adapt traditional safety practices , and adopt new ones , to address the known and emerging health technology challenges that they are sure to face .”
Reference :
ECRI . Executive Brief : Top 10 Health Technology Hazards for 2021 : Expert Insights from Health Devices . www . ecri . org / 2021hazards
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Communication across disciplines will likewise be key , as organizations transition from just trying to cope during an emergency to building stronger and more resilient processes .”
— Robert Schluth
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