Safety Information in Medical Device Labeling
I have started a series for the Human Factors MD blog on the design, presentation, and evaluation of safety information (warnings, precautions, and contraindications) in medical device labeling.
Last week I posted the first in the series that provided an overview of the challenges medical device companies face when developing safety information for their products. Yesterday, I posted the second in the series that discussed the four components (signal word, identification of the hazard, information on how to avoid the hazard, and consequences for failing to avoid the hazard) typically included when developing safety information.
Some of the additional topics that will be covered in the series include:
- Purpose of safety information
- When safety information is required
- Challenges developing safety information
- Why safety information isn’t always effective
- Questions to ask when developing safety information
- Design considerations when developing safety information
- Issues seen in device labeling safety information
Strategies for Successful Human Factors Collaborations with Medical Device Development Teams
Best Practices in Safety Information Presentation in IFUs
Design Best Practices for Medical Device Labeling Warnings
Last month, I led a 90-minute webinar on Warnings and Safety Information in Device Labeling, Part 2: Design Best Practices for the AAMI University Distance Learning Program. Topics included:
- Reviewing seven initial questions to ask before designing warnings and safety information in medical device labeling.
- Discussing five overarching design considerations when developing warnings and safety information in medical device labeling.
- Describing which features contribute to effective warnings and safety information for medical device labeling.
- Identifying best practices of warnings and safety information in medical device labeling.
- Providing resources for instructional designers to use when developing warnings and safety information for medical device labeling.
If you missed the two-part webinar, you can purchase access to the archived webinar here.
Top 10 Health Technology Hazards for 2017
The ECRI Institute has published their annual Top 10 Health Technology Hazards for 2017. As noted in the brief, the list is published each year to identify:
“…the potential sources of danger that we believe warrant the greatest attention for the coming year. The list does not enumerate the most frequently reported problems or the ones associated with the most severe consequences—although we do consider such information in our analysis. Rather, the list reflects our judgment about which risks should receive priority now.” (p. 3)
The list includes:
- Infusion Errors Can Be Deadly If Simple Safety Steps Are Overlooked
- Inadequate Cleaning of Complex Reusable Instruments Can Lead to Infections
- Missed Ventilator Alarms Can Lead to Patient Harm
- Undetected Opioid-Induced Respiratory Depression
- Infection Risks with Heater-Cooler Devices Used in Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Software Management Gaps Put Patients, and Patient Data, at Risk
- Occupational Radiation Hazards in Hybrid ORs
- Automated Dispensing Cabinet Setup and Use Errors May Cause Medication Mishaps
- Surgical Stapler Misuse and Malfunctions
- Device Failures Caused by Cleaning Products and Practices
If you’re interested in getting your own copy of the Executive Brief, visit this link.