Evolving Patterns of Medical Device Hazards: A Comprehensive Study

Introduction: The “Emergency Care Research Institute’s” (ECRI's) annual “Top 10 Health Technology Hazards (HTH) report” has been a reliable resource for healthcare providers, helping them prioritize patient safety. However, there is currently a lack of comprehensive HTH data assessment to aid hospitals in their decision-making.Objective: This study seeks to bridge the existing knowledge gap of HTHs by conducting an analysis of hazard data spanning multiple years. The findings will equip hospitals with the necessary information to make strategic decisions on risk reduction, equipment management, MDAE prevention, and the acquisition of new technologies to enhance safety within healthcare settings.Methods: Retrospective observational study using descriptive and analytical approach was conducted on secondary data of HTH report obtained from ECRI's website and other open access data repositories. The data was collected from the year 2010 to 2023 (spanning 13 years), and was subsequently organized, reviewed and analysed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS to reveal any recurrent patterns and trends.Results: According to the study, 7.7% of concerns were related to endoscope infections and 4.6% to medication errors from infusion pumps. Therapeutic devices were responsible for 22% of hazards, while diagnostic devices caused 5%. Alarm-related issues (7.7%), radiation-related hazards (4.6%), cybersecurity concerns (5.4%), and data integrity challenges (4.6%) were also significant contributors.Conclusion: Tackling challenges such as therapeutic device hazards, infection control risks, radiation exposure, cybersecurity threats, and data integrity issues is crucial for improving patient safety and maintaining reliable operations in the rapidly evolving technological environment of healthcare facilities.