What We Do
Research
The Healthcare Technology Safety Institute (HTSI) pursues independent, peer-reviewed research studies that expand the understanding of the socio-economic role of medical technology. The lead investigators for HTSI studies are prominent experts in their respective fields. Its goals are to:
- Identify research gaps and then set/share research agendas to address the gaps.
- Gather baseline data where none exists to determine the impact of change to behaviors, designs, uses, and other factors surrounding healthcare technology.
- Test, assess, and validate actions that have potential to significantly reduce technology related adverse incidents. (Research will be conducted in many ways and by several stakeholders. Academic research, real-time/real-life research, surveys, etc.
Publish
HTSI makes research results/findings, experiences, and perspectives widely available so that healthcare systems can learn and potentially adopt practices for preventing medical technology adverse events. Its goals are to:
- Share positive deviance behavior and leading practices throughout the healthcare community and disciplines to inspire and encourage replication.
- Share resources so that duplication of efforts are eliminated and "cost" to health care delivery systems and to regulatory bodies are significantly reduced.
- Use existing forms of information dissemination to create a groundswell of attention to safer approaches to using, designing, and managing healthcare technology
Consensus Building
HTSI serves as a neutral convener to allow interdisciplinary stakeholders (or parties with an interest in the problem or issue) to work together to develop a mutually acceptable solution, to voice their concerns and issues, and to have input into decision-making processes. Its goals are to:
- Establish a common understanding and framework for developing a solution that works for everyone.
- Foster the exploration of integrative solutions and allow the development of solutions that make healthcare technology safer for everyone.
Educate
HTSI identifies education gaps and then sets/shares education agendas to address the gaps. Its goals are to:
- Offer timely, practical, accessible, affordable, and innovative educational opportunities so that healthcare professionals and industry can be equipped with the information to adopt processes and practices to prevent adverse incidents from the use of healthcare technology.
- Provide collaborative learning environments so that positive behaviors can be shared openly and so that challenges can be identified to prevent potential harm from healthcare technology.
- Encourage communication among colleagues and between experts.
- Contribute to the improvement of healthcare technology safety.
Effect Change
HTSI encourages replication and adoption of positive deviance behaviors and practices, and new clinical practices. Its goals are to:
- Develop and support standardized terminologies and protocols,
- Create a central safe and consistent incident reporting system that allows for deeper exploration of root causes that can be shared across the healthcare spectrum,
- Encourage other means of improving the use and manufacture, integration, and connectivity of medical device technology.
Raise Support and Funds
In order to continue to fund all of the above, HTSI must secure grants and various levels of financial contributions so that research projects, educational programs, and publications can be implemented and produced.