2016_C-suite_Watch_ListWith a number of new drugs, medical devices, and care procedures rolling on to the market, ECRI Institute has released a report aimed at helping hospital administrators evaluate the best choices to improve patient care. The latest edition of ECRI’s annual Top 10 Hospital C-Suite Watch List includes an overview of 10 new technologies that will affect care delivery over the next 12 to 18 months.

“Hospital leaders have to deal with a lot of new technology issues—and demands from different departments in their facilities—so this list is intended to assist them in their efforts to update or implement their strategic technology plans,” said Robert P. Maliff, director, applied solutions group at ECRI.

The report highlights 10 key topics, along with a “What to Do” section incorporating actionable recommendations for hospital leaders. It is available for free download on the ECRI website (registration required). This year’s report includes the following items:

  1. Mobile Stroke Units: Are They More than a Concierge Ambulance Ride?
  2. Medical Device Cybersecurity: When Will Your Pacemaker be Hacked?
  3. Wireless Wearable Sensors: Data Sense or Data Chaos?
  4. Miniature Leadless Pacemakers: Will Potential Benefits Make a Difference?
  5. Blue-violet LED Light Fixtures: Can the Flip of a Switch Help Prevent Healthcare-acquired Infections?
  6. New High-cost Cardiovascular Drugs: Will They Help Your Readmission Rates?
  7. Changing Landscape of Robotic Surgery: Is a Mainframe to Tablet-type Paradigm Change Coming?
  8. Spectral Computed Tomography: What’s the New Hype About?
  9. Injected Bioabsorbable Hydrogel (SpaceOAR): An End to Some Radiation Therapy Complications?
  10. Warm Donor Organ Perfusion Systems: Will They Ease the Organ Supply Shortage?

“Taking an evidence-based, ‘just the facts’ approach to assessing new healthcare innovations—from gadgets to drugs to infrastructure issues—that have been on our radar for the last year, we present hospital leaders with unbiased guidance to support informed decision making and help them understand how new innovations will affect care delivery,” said Diane C. Robertson, director, health technology assessment for ECRI.

ECRI has also established a new LinkedIn group, Emerging Healthcare Technologies in Patient Care, to stimulate discussion of these topics. Membership is subject to request.