Expert advice on new technology safety

Question before buying: “Start by asking what problem are you trying to solve. Is technology going to fix it, and what could possibly go wrong,” advises Mary Logan, president of the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation.

Budget for training: Along with budgets for capital costs and supplies, include a training budget. If it is not considered in the upfront costs, money for training is often unavailable when the technology is deployed, says Jim Keller, vice president of health technology evaluation and safety at the ECRI Institute.

Temper enthusiasm: “Enthusiasm drives innovation, but innovation must be tempered by caution and safety,” says Dr. Christopher Kane, an expert in robotic surgery at the University of California at San Diego.

Determine true value: “Innovation that doesn’t advance medical care by making the quality better or by offering equal quality at better cost is not an advancement,” says Dr. Michael Carome, director of the Public Citizen Health Research Group.

Reduce variation: Using differing versions of the same technology can be confusing for busy staff. Reducing variation is a fundamental principle of patient safety, says Dr. Ana PujolsMcKee, the Joint Commission’s chief medical officer.