ECRI: Top 10 technology patient safety hazards

Several facets of health IT have a positive impact on patient outcomes, like automated reminders that improve medication adherence. But other technologies could actually have an adverse effect on patient safety.

The ECRI Institute detailed the top 10 health technology hazards for 2015 in its new report, created to help hospitals recognize and prioritize patient safety issues. They are listed below.

1. Inadequate alarm configuration policies, practices

2. Incorrect, missing data in EHRs

3. Mixed-up IV lines leading to drug, solution misadministration

4. Inadequate reprocessing of endoscopes, surgical instruments

5. Miss-set or missed alarms leading to uncaught ventilator disconnections

6. Patient-handling device use errors, failures

7. Unnoticed variations in diagnostic radiation exposures

8. Robotic surgery complications from insufficient training

9. Insufficient medical device, system protections

10. Overwhelmed recall, safety-alert management programs

The full report includes recommendations from the ECRI Institute for how hospitals can mitigate these issues.

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