Healthcare systems increasingly rely on interconnected technologies to support diagnosis, treatment and care delivery. Medical devices, software platforms and digital tools are now embedded across clinical and operational settings, often under conditions of high workload and organisational pressure. While these technologies can improve efficiency and coordination, they also introduce risks that may contribute to patient harm if not adequately managed. Technology-related safety concerns frequently arise not from isolated device failures but from the interaction between systems, users and clinical environments. For 2026, a set of recurring health technology hazards highlights areas where gaps in preparedness, design or implementation continue to pose challenges. These hazards reflect systemic patterns rather than individual products and point to areas where healthcare organisations may need to reassess how technologies are selected, configured and used in practice.
Digital Technologies and System Vulnerabilities
The expanded use of digital tools in healthcare has introduced new safety considerations, particularly around artificial intelligence applications and system resilience. Widely available AI chatbots and large language models are increasingly used by patients, clinicians and healthcare staff to obtain rapid responses to health-related questions. These systems generate plausible and contextually relevant text but may produce incorrect or misleading information, as outputs are based on statistical patterns rather than clinical understanding. When used to inform decisions related to medical conditions, treatments or device use, such inaccuracies may influence patient care.
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Another significant risk relates to large-scale disruptions of electronic systems, often described as digital darkness events. These incidents may result from cyberattacks, natural disasters, vendor outages or internal system failures. Loss of access to electronic health records, diagnostic systems or connected devices can delay treatment, disrupt workflows and increase the likelihood of error. Staff may be required to operate under unfamiliar downtime procedures for extended periods, contributing to fatigue and operational strain. Organisational impacts can include postponed procedures, patient diversion and financial consequences.
Device Use, Medication Safety and Clinical Workflows
Several persistent hazards involve the interface between medical devices, medications and everyday clinical practice. Tubing misconnections remain a recognised risk where connectors designed for different clinical applications are physically compatible. Such misconnections can result in medications, nutrition or gases being delivered through unintended routes, sometimes with severe or fatal outcomes. Application-specific connector standards exist to reduce this risk, yet implementation has been uneven.
Medication safety in perioperative settings also remains a concern. Technologies such as barcode medication administration systems, smart infusion pumps and automated dispensing cabinets are commonly used in other care areas but are less consistently deployed around surgical procedures. Perioperative environments involve high-alert medications and workflows where a single practitioner may be responsible for prescribing, preparing and administering drugs. These conditions can increase vulnerability to error. In addition, technology designs or configurations that do not reflect actual clinical workflows may prompt staff to adopt workarounds, undermining safety and contributing to adverse events.
Supply Chain Integrity and Reprocessing Infrastructure
Beyond direct clinical use, broader infrastructure and supply chain factors continue to influence technology-related risk. Substandard and falsified medical products remain present in healthcare markets, potentially leading to device malfunction, ineffective treatment or patient harm. These products can also trigger recalls and supply disruptions, placing additional operational burden on healthcare organisations.
Challenges associated with cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation of reusable medical devices persist. Incomplete, impractical or inconsistent reprocessing instructions can make effective device reprocessing difficult, increasing the risk of infection, device damage or staff injury. Water quality during instrument reprocessing represents a related concern. Insufficiently purified water can leave residues, contribute to corrosion or compromise sterility, sometimes leading to delayed procedures and reduced capacity. These issues illustrate how patient safety depends on procurement decisions, environmental controls and adherence to established reprocessing standards.
The health technology hazards identified for 2026 reflect ongoing systemic challenges in how technologies are integrated into healthcare delivery. Risks frequently emerge from misalignment between technological capabilities, clinical workflows and organisational preparedness rather than from isolated technical failures. Digital tools, device design, medication processes and supporting infrastructure all play a role in shaping patient safety outcomes. For healthcare professionals and decision-makers, these hazards underscore the importance of structured risk assessment, cross-disciplinary collaboration and continuous evaluation of how technologies are used in real-world settings. Addressing these areas may help reduce preventable harm and support safer care across diverse healthcare environments.
Source: ECRI
Image Credit: iStock
