Radiopharmaceutical calibrators are specialized radiation detection devices that measure the activity of radioisotopes before they are administered to patients during nuclear medicine studies. They are also used in radiopharmacy procedures and to prepare radiopharmaceutical compounds at specific concentrations. Proper use of a calibrator can ensure that a patient receives the...

As the government’s meaningful use incentives are driving hospitals to rapidly adopt Electronic Medical Records, an increasing number of hospitals are also looking towards connecting their medical devices to the EMR for the purposes of automated documentation. Connecting vital signs monitoring systems to the EMR can increase the accuracy and...

Congratulations to Grande Ronde Hospital, winner of ECRI Institute’s prestigious award recognizing excellence in technology management and patient safety. This 25-bed critical access facility’s award-winning telemedicine initiative allows its patients in rural northeast Oregon and Washington to access specialty physicians from across four states. Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande,...

Dangers from clinical alarms, radiation exposure, and medication errors from infusion pumps top ECRI Institute’s newly-released Top 10 Health Technology Hazards for 2012, a comprehensive report published annually to raise awareness of the potential dangers associated with the use of medical devices and systems. For prioritizing your 2012 patient safety...

Breast tomosynthesis has the potential to reduce the number of missed cancers and the number of patients unnecessarily recalled for repeat studies compared to standard 2-D mammography. But despite the advantages of this new technology, certain issues may impede widespread clinical adoption. This excerpt from a recent ECRI Institute guidance...

Finding the best option between servicing your equipment in-house or using an outside party can be complicated. Consider these recommendations to help you effectively manage the decision process. How do you decide who should service your medical equipment? Should it be the original equipment manufacturer (OEM)? A third-party/independent service organization...

From time to time, you may need to reexamine your servicing arrangements and decide whether your equipment service should be performed by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), a third party such as an independent service organization (ISO), or inhouse personnel. This decision may apply to a single device, the facility’s...

Thanks to recent technological advances, beds for critical care patients offer many features and functions that aid patient therapy and help caregivers. Hospitals must determine which of these features are necessary and appropriate for their patient population before making a purchasing decision. We based our criteria and test methods on...

Endoscope reprocessing problems, when discovered, can inconvenience patients and create anxiety. In a worst-case scenario, they can lead to life-threatening infections. Earlier this year, TechNation featured ECRI Institute’s Top 10 Health Technology Hazards for 2011, which includes 10 sources of potential danger that warrant attention this year. No. 3 on...