A report by ECRI spotlights the risks associated with the increasing use of medical devices like ventilators in home settings.
RT’s Three Key Takeaways
- ECRI has identified the use of medical devices, such as ventilators, at home by patients and caregivers as the top health technology safety hazard for 2024, highlighting the risks associated with insufficient training for non-professional users.
- The list of concerns also includes issues related to artificial intelligence (AI) and data security, reflecting broader industry trends and challenges in health technology.
- ECRI emphasizes the importance of considering human factors and end-user capabilities in the design of medical devices to ensure safety as more medical care shifts from hospitals to home settings.
ECRI, a nonprofit patient safety organization, has named challenges for patients and caregivers using medical devices, including ventilators, at home as the most pressing health technology safety hazard for 2024.
Reflecting industry trends, the list also includes multiple concerns related to artificial intelligence (AI) and data security.
ECRI is the only organization in the world to conduct independent medical device evaluations. ECRI follows a rigorous review process to select topics, drawing insight from incident investigations, reporting databases, and independent medical device testing, according to a release from the organization.
Evidence shows that more people are receiving medical care at home as the US population ages and the number of adults living with chronic conditions increases. As a result, medical devices such as ventilators and infusion pumps 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, in a release. “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. 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,” says Schabacker in a release. “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.”
In ranked order, ECRI’s Top 10 Health Technology Hazards for 2024 are:
- Usability challenges with medical devices in the home
- Insufficient cleaning instructions for medical devices
- Drug compounding without technology safeguards
- Environmental harm from patient care
- Insufficient governance of AI in medical technologies
- Ransomware as a critical threat to the healthcare sector
- Burns from single-foil electrosurgical electrodes
- Damaged infusion pumps risk medication errors
- Defects in implantable orthopedic products
- Web analytics software and the misuse of patient data
Now in its 17th year, ECRI’s Top 10 Health Technology Hazards report identifies critical healthcare technology issues. Since its creation in 2008, the list has supported hospitals, health systems, ambulatory surgery centers, and manufacturers in mitigating risks.
An executive brief of the latest Top 10 Health Technology Hazards report is available for download at www.ECRI.org/2024hazards.
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