ECRI publishes its Top Ten List for 2026

Each year, ECRI produces its Top 10 Health Technology Hazards report to highlight potential sources of danger involving the use of medical devices and systems to inform the healthcare community about these key safety issues. The full report, available to members of ECRI programs, includes additional details about each hazard and offers practical recommendations for reducing the identified risks, all with the goal of preventing harm.

Here is the 2026 list:

1. The Misuse of AI Chatbots in Healthcare
2. Unpreparedness for a “Digital Darkness” Event
3. The Growing Challenge of Combating Substandard and Falsified Medical Products
4. Recall Communication Failures for Home Diabetes Management Technologies
5. Tubing Misconnections Remain a Threat Amid Slow ENFit and NRFit Adoption
6. Underutilizing Medication Safety Technologies in Perioperative Settings
7. Deficient Device Cleaning Instructions Continue to Endanger Patients
8. Cybersecurity Risks from Legacy Medical Devices
9. Technology Designs or Configurations That Prompt Unsafe Clinical Workflows
10. Water Quality Issues During Instrument Sterilization

A summary of each of the hazards in the list can be obtained from here.