Medical device error and failure reporting: Learning from the car industry (8 May 2021)

Summary

Improving the design of technology relies in part, on the reporting of performance failures in existing devices. Healthcare has low levels of formal reporting of performance and failure of medical equipment. This paper from Tase et al. examines methods of reporting in the car industry and healthcare and aims to understand differences and identify opportunities for improvement within healthcare.

Content

This research presents a number of factors contributing to poor reporting in healthcare as well as suggestions for system improvement drawn from the car industry. Amongst these, an increase in specificity of reporting method, need for long term data and recognition of behavioural differences between different sources could lead to better reporting methods and potentially reduce existing levels of underreporting. It also considers that bringing device performance reporting outside the context of incidents only would lead to improved knowledge and learning for all stakeholders.

Thus, a different and targeted approach to malfunction reporting of medical devices is required with an emphasis on learning, effective communication and device improvement to ensure patient safety and healthcare performance.

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