April 30, 2008 – The number of product recalls and safety alerts that impact hospitals and healthcare systems in the U.S. continues to rise, according to the Noblis Center for Health Innovation, a advisory group to health providers.
Noblis’ National RASMAS Center, a group of expert clinicians who locate, assess, standardize, categorize and disseminate product safety alerts, said yesterday that safety alerts have risen six percent in the first quarter of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007. Surgical equipment and supply alerts grew by 27 percent, while pharmaceutical alerts increased by 33 percent. Children’s consumer product recalls grew 58 percent.
“Based on first quarter results and RASMAS historical data, we project continued growth in product recalls and safety alerts this year,” said Mark Lay, RASMAS Program Director at the Noblis Center for Health Innovation. “This increase will have a significant impact on healthcare organizations that are already flooded with thousands of alerts each year.”
The most significant recall for healthcare providers in the first quarter of 2008 was for heparin. The heparin recall highlights the tremendous impact a recall has on every dimension of a healthcare delivery system including the patient and their families, said the company.
For more information: www.noblis.org/Healthcare