The patient safety organization ECRI issued an executive brief on its special report, Top 10 Health Technology Hazards for 2026. This report spotlights 10 critical health technology hazards in an effort to minimize risk and prevent harm. The top 10 list and report are designed to help healthcare facilities identify key safety issues involving the use of medical devices and systems, and offer practical recommendations to reduce the risk.
ECRI’s Top 10 Health Technology Hazards for 2026* list includes:
- The Misuse of Al Chatbots in Healthcare
- Unpreparedness for a "Digital Darkness" Event
- The Growing Challenge of Combating Substandard and Falsified Medical Products
- Recall Communication Failures for Home Diabetes Management Technologies
- Tubing Misconnections Remain a Threat Amid Slow EN Fit and NRFit Adoption
- Underutilizing Medication Safety Technologies in Perioperative Settings
- Deficient Device Cleaning Instructions Continue to Endanger Patients
- Cybersecurity Risks from Legacy Medical Devices
- Technology Designs or Configurations That Prompt Unsafe Clinical Workflows
- Water Quality Issues During Instrument Sterilization
Learn more about health technology hazards and what you can do to address them. Download the executive brief for free at ECRI.org. The 2026 Top 10 Health Technology Hazards Solutions Kit, accessible to ECRI members via their membership webpages, provides detailed steps that organizations can proactively take to address these hazards.
*ECRI. Top 10 Health Technology Hazards for 2026: Executive Brief. ECRI; 2026.
Learn More About AI
AI is again at the top of the ECRI hazards list this year, as its tremendous potential as an efficient tool comes with critical risk considerations. To learn more about AI in healthcare, access the LAMMICO resources described in this AI article.
