May 24, 2024- Considering the changes to healthcare brought on by the pandemic, many patients have been choosing to receive care within the comfort of their own homes instead of the hospital; a transition which has been made possible largely due to the switch to virtual care and innovation within at-home medical technology. However, most medical devices are still designed to be used by a medical professional in a hospital or clinical setting, requiring patients, more often, to seek in-person healthcare.
At-home patient care is a developing concept, and it does not come without risks for patients. According to a report from ECRI, one of the most pressing health technology safety concerns in 2024 are for patients and caregivers using medical devices at home. The ECRI Top 10 Health Technology Hazards list identifies the most critical healthcare technology issues annually. The list supports health systems, hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), and distributors in mitigating potential industry risks. This year’s list includes home medical device safety issues, along with insufficient cleaning of medical devices, environmental harm from care, AI in healthcare, and more.
ECRI’s research report shows that more people are now receiving medical care at home due to the rise in the nation’s population and the number of patients living with chronic conditions increasing. As a result, medical devices such as infusion pumps and ventilators are being used at home more often. In some cases, patients and caregivers have not been properly trained on how exactly to use certain medical devices. Lack of proper medical device training is dangerous, as devices can lead to patient harm if used improperly.
Read More in the latest issue of JHC.