Device-Related Hazards Jeopardize Patient Safety

Experts Call for Shared Responsibility Between Clinicians, Manufacturers

By Kelly M. Pyrek

Technology-related hazards in the healthcare environment are escalating as advanced equipment and medical devices proliferate. The challenge is that clinicians may not be adequately educated and trained to interact properly with this technology, thus opening themselves – and their patients – to adverse outcomes during care delivery.

ECRI, a non-profit patient safety organization, has released its Top 10 Health Technology Hazards report for 2023, cautioning about potential safety risks with 10 health technologies, including single-use products, medication cabinets, cybersecurity of cloud-based systems, and ventilator disinfection.

“Clinicians are literally at the frontlines of healthcare—they use the full range of health technologies while providing patient care. So naturally they play a key role in preventing technology-related hazards, and their familiarity with a device and level of training will be a factor,” says Rob Schluth, principal project officer in ECRI’s Device Evaluation group. “Minimizing the risk of harm requires that clinicians understand what a device can and can’t do and that they know how to use the device safely.”

Schluth continues, “For instance, topics covered in ECRI’s 2023 Top 10 Health Technology Hazards report describe the need for healthcare workers (a) to understand the factors that can increase the risk of adverse outcomes when using technologies such as inflatable pressure infusers, hemodialysis machines, and electrosurgical units, (b) to know which situations warrant emergency measures, such as using the override feature on an automated medication dispensing cabinet, (c) to use appropriate protocols when deploying cardiac telemetry monitors, and (d) to examine devices/supplies for damage before use and to report any problems they see.”

Responsibility is shared with the equipment and device manufacturers, ECRI emphasizes in its 2023 report.

“Clinicians should not be viewed as the sole protectors of patient safety, but rather the last line of defense: Individuals who are in a position to spot potential problems and prevent an adverse event before it occurs,” Schluth confirms. “Decisions made and actions taken before the clinician even touches the device are just as important. Considerations include: Is the device or system of sufficient quality, and is it appropriate for the clinical need? Has it been installed or configured appropriately? And has it been adequately maintained?”

He adds, “One point we emphasize in our report is that device manufacturers play a critical role as well. In this era when healthcare facilities are understaffed and healthcare workers are overstressed, it's more important than ever that medical technologies be designed in ways that help ensure their safe use. ECRI is encouraging manufacturers to “design out” technology hazards when it’s possible to do so. An engineering solution that eliminates a hazard will always be preferable to a training solution that can only warn of a hazard.”

Read further from the March 2023 issue HERE