4 Things Healthcare Facilities Should Know About Medical Device Recalls

The number of medical device recalls issued halfway through 2021 is far higher than in the previous five years. Healthcare facilities are now facing both a higher number of recalls and a shortage of essential medical devices and products. The FDA has noted that recalled medical devices caused almost 100,000 deaths between 2008 and 2021 but before and after this time period?

Recalls are voluntarily done by a manufacturer. The FDA has only mandated 4 medical recalls in the entire time of their existence, which means that the safety of patients largely lies in the hands of private, commercial companies. This is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to medical device recalls and safety. Today, manufacturers and healthcare providers don’t need to wait on the government to improve patient safety. Here are four things I believe healthcare workers need to know about medical device recalls to improve patient safety.