Health technology hazards can come in many forms.
They can be the result of IT-related problems such as improperly configured systems, incomplete data, or inappropriate malware protection.
They can be caused by inappropriate human-device interaction, such as incorrect reprocessing techniques, improper device maintenance, and poor recall management.
They can also be problems that are intrinsic to the devices themselves: Ease-of-use issues, design flaws, quality issues, and failure of devices to perform as they should can all contribute to device-related events. It’s vitally important to recognize such hazards and address them before they cause problems. But the big question is, where do you start? That’s where our Top 10 Health Technology Hazards list comes in.
The List for 2015
- Alarm Hazards: Inadequate Alarm Configuration Policies and Practices
- Data Integrity: Incorrect or Missing Data in EHRs and Other Health IT Systems
- Mix-Up of IV Lines Leading to Misadministration of Drugs and Solutions
- Inadequate Reprocessing of Endoscopes and Surgical Instruments
- Ventilator Disconnections Not Caught because of Mis-set or Missed Alarms
- Patient-Handling Device Use Errors and Device Failures
- “Dose Creep”: Unnoticed Variations in Diagnostic Radiation Exposures
- Robotic Surgery: Complications due to Insufficient Training
- Cybersecurity: Insufficient Protections for Medical Devices and Systems
- Overwhelmed Recall and Safety-Alert Management Programs
