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10 health tech hazards that could kill you -- really

As it does every year, the Plymouth Meeting-based ECRI Institute on Thursday released its list of what it regards as the top 10 health technology hazards. Topping the list was one of the year’s biggest health stories, poorly cleaned endoscopes that have spread deadly infections

    by Inquirer staff writer
    Published 

As it does every year, the Plymouth Meeting-based ECRI Institute on Thursday released its list of what it regards as the top 10 health technology hazards. Topping the list was one of the year's biggest health stories, poorly cleaned endoscopes that have spread deadly infections. As the Inquirer's Tom Avril  reported in April , this is a complicated problem that will be tough to solve.

You may be startled at No. 7 – turns out more health care workers than you would suspect actually reuse syringes, potentially transmitting pathogens from one patient to another.

And No. 10 is surprising too – who knew that people (maybe doctors, or patients, or visitors) are plugging their smart phones into USB ports on medical devices?  Note to self: Don't do this.

Here's a quick look at the top 10 list. Download the full report here.

  1. Inadequate Cleaning of Flexible Endoscopes before Disinfection Can Spread Deadly Pathogens

  2. Missed Alarms Can Have Fatal Consequences

  3. Failure to Effectively Monitor Postoperative Patients for Opioid-Induced Respiratory Depression Can Lead to Brain Injury or Death .

  4. Inadequate Surveillance of Monitored Patients in a Telemetry Setting May Put Patients at Risk

  5. Insufficient Training of Clinicians on Operating Room Technologies Puts Patients at Increased Risk of Harm

  6. Errors Arise When Health IT Configurations and Facility Workflow Do Not Support Each Other

  7. Unsafe Injection Practices Expose Patients to Infectious Agents

  8. Gamma Camera Mechanical Failures Can Lead to Serious Injury or Death

  9. Failure to Appropriately Operate Intensive Care Ventilators Can Result in Preventable Ventilator-Induced Lung Injuries

  10. Misuse of USB Ports Can Cause Medical Devices to Malfunction

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