The ECRI Institute has published their annual Top 10 Health Technology Hazards for 2019. 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. 2)
The list includes:
- Hackers Can Exploit Remote Access to Systems, Disrupting Healthcare Operations
- “Clean” Mattresses Can Ooze Body Fluids onto Patients
- Retained Sponges Persist as a Surgical Complication Despite Manual Recounts
- Improperly Set Ventilator Alarms Put Patients at Risk for Hypoxic Brain Injury or Death
- Mishandling Flexible Endoscopes after Disinfection Can Lead to Patient Infections
- Confusing Dose Rate with Flow Rate Can Lead to Infusion Pump Medication Errors
- Improper Customization of Physiologic Monitor Alarm Settings May Result in Missed Alarms
- Injury Risk from Overhead Patient Lift Systems
- Cleaning Fluid Seeping into Electrical Components Can Lead to Equipment Damage and Fires
- Flawed Battery Charging Systems and Practices Can Affect Device Operation
If you’re interested in getting your own copy of the Executive Brief, visit this link.
Leave a Reply