The ECRI Institute, a nonprofit research institute for patient safety, has released its annual list of the top 10 health technology hazards.
The list was created based on the likelihood each hazard: could cause serious injury or death, occurs often, could create a problem with widespread consequences, is difficult to recognize, could create negative attention for a hospital and could be addressed to prevent consequences.
Sign up for our FREE E-Weekly for more coverage like this sent to your inbox!
The hazard list, with the most pressing hazard first, includes:
1. Alarm hazards
2. Infusion pump medication errors
3. CT radiation exposure in pediatric patients
4. Data integrity failures in electronic health records and other health information technology systems
5. Occupational radiation hazards in hybrid operating rooms
6. Inadequate reprocessing of endoscopes and surgical instruments
7. Neglecting change management for networked devices and systems
8. Risks to pediatric patients from "adult" technologies
9. Robotic Surgery complications due to insufficient training
10. Retained devices and unretrieved fragments
Access the full report at ECRI's website.
More Articles on Quality:
New York Healthcare Worker Exposes Babies to TB
7 Stats on Patient-Controlled Analgesia
Michigan Hospitals Save $116M Through Quality Program