Reaching Higher…10 Ways to Improve Device Safety

Abstract

safety? Recently, Biomedical Instrumentation & Technology (BI&T) reached out to clinical, industry, and academic experts for their patient safety guidance. They recommended 10 specific strategies that together convey a singular message: Push the boundaries on multiple fronts. Medical technology professionals could go deeper and broader, and act more aggressively and creatively, to improve policies and practices, according to the experts. Their rationale: realities in 21stcentury healthcare and beyond call for a different mindset today. The same forces that have transformed other major industries over the past decade are making an impact in the medical technology field as well, including globalization, rapid and constant change, increasing complexity and collaboration, and pervasive use of information technology and communications. Against this backdrop, several broad themes run through the experts’ recommendations for improving device safety. • Think globally. The device industry is global in scope, which requires operating on a worldwide playing field, from setting standards to research and development, design and manufacturing to reporting incidents. But thinking globally goes beyond geography. It also means breaking down silos that exist in healthcare, industry, government, and education to address issues holistically. • Work across disciplines. The increasing complexity of devices and the people who use them requires more collaboration among professionals who bring a diversity of expertise and perspectives to the table. • Be proactive. A defensive crouch isn’t the best position from which to improve device safety. Preventing problems before they occur is more effective than fixing them once they do. Medical technology professionals are often uniquely situated Reaching