Top Healthcare Hazards for 2023

Communication gaps with recalls of home-use medical devices tops the list of healthcare hazards in 2023, according to the latest report from ECRI, the nation’s largest non-profit patient safety organization. Other hazards that made ECRI’s top 10 list of healthcare hazards in 2023 include: failure to manage cybersecurity risks in cloud-based clinical systems, defective single-use medical devices, and inappropriate use of automated dispensing cabinet overrides. Home healthcare is a growing trend and the experts at ECRI are concerned that patients are not receiving safety notices, warnings, and recalls for the devices they are using. Since devices are sold and distributed to patients through intermediaries (like hospitals, pharmacies, retailers, payers, employers, etc.), device manufacturers do not have direct lines of communications with their end-users. Unlike cars, there is no central database that ties the current owner with a specific vehicle. As a result, patients may not learn of safety issues or recalls until months later. In addition, the language of the notifications can be confusing. One example, cited by ECRI, was the recall of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices. The recall was initiated in June 2021 and affected 5.5 million devices. It took months for some patients to become aware of the recall and the notice was unclear whether it was safe for patients to continue using the device or what actions they needed to take. In a press release, ...
Source: EMR and HIPAA - Category: Information Technology Authors: Tags: Ambulatory Clinical Communication and Patient Experience Healthcare IT Hospital - Health System at-home medical devices CPAP Recall ECRI healthcare hazards Home Healthcare Marcus Schabacker medical device recalls medical device saf Source Type: blogs