10 Most Hazardous Technologies in Healthcare

7. Problems with computerized equipment and systems. Convergence of medical and information technology can improve patient care. But "if systems and interfaces are poorly planned, implemented, or managed, they can threaten patient safety and can lead to inefficiencies, significant interruptions in operations, and uncaptured or lost revenue."

These technologies also carry a risk that patient images or data may be incorrectly transferred or processed, with the result being inaccurate matching of the patient to his or her data. According to the Joint Commission's report in December 2008, 25% of 176,409 medication errors in 2006 involved some aspect of computer technology.

8. Surgical stapler hazards. These staplers sometimes fail, resulting in prolonged surgery, serious tissue injury, and even death.

Some common problems include failure to position the stapler jaws on the tissue to be stapled, improper matching of stapler cartridge size to tissue thickness, and uneven distribution of the tissue in the stapler's jaws.

9. Ferromagnetic objects in the MR environment. Objects that can become magnetized in the presence of a magnetic field, such as that from an MRI machine, can turn wheelchairs, gas cylinders, and other objects into dangerous flying projectiles "hurtling with great force into the bore of the magnet." Additionally, implanted magnetic devices, such as aneurysm clips, can dangerously migrate because of the magnetic pull. Patients can be burned when currents are induced in electrically conductive materials.

The ECRI reported a Pennsylvania case in 2008 in which "there were 148 reports of problems related to inadequate screening that resulted in patients with implanted devices entering, or nearly entering, the MR scanner room."

As a precaution, providers should consider installing detectors to screen patients and equipment, update checklists and do not allow equipment into the MR room unless it has been determined to be safe.

10. Fiberoptic light-source burns. "Each year, ECRI Institute receives reports of burns to staff and patients resulting from use of these devices," according to the report. The two burn hazards most commonly reported are: Burns from light itself and burns from heated cable connections.