Making Medical Devices Safer at Home.

Fact Sheet/FAQs

Making Medical Devices Safer at Home.

January 9, 2013

Consumer Updates. Silver Spring, MD: US Food and Drug Administration; December 12, 2012.

Highlighting concerns associated with patients' use of medical devices at home, such as difficulty understanding instructions, this article offers tips for consumers to help reduce risks.

Available at

Related Resources From the Same Author(s)

Safety Problems With Your Child's Medical Device?

July 31, 2013

Important change to heparin container labels to clearly state the total drug strength.

December 19, 2012

Four Medication Safety Tips for Older Adults.

June 18, 2014

FDA 101: How to Use the Consumer Complaint System and MedWatch.

June 25, 2008

Serious adverse events from accidental ingestion by children of over-the-counter eye drops and nasal sprays.

November 7, 2012

Hospira Carpuject pre-filled cartridges—drug alert: products may contain more than the intended fill volume.

May 30, 2012

FDA identifies harm reported from sudden discontinuation of opioid pain medicines and requires label changes to guide prescribers on gradual, individualized tapering.

April 17, 2019

A Review of FDA’s Approach to Medical Product Shortages.

November 16, 2011

Codeine use in certain children after tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy may lead to rare, but life-threatening adverse events or death.

February 20, 2013

FDA updates vinca alkaloid labeling for preparation in intravenous infusion bags only.

February 3, 2021

Apotex Corp. issues voluntary nationwide recall of Enoxaparin Sodium Injection, USP due to mislabeling of syringe barrel measurement markings.

February 17, 2021

Kadcyla (ado-trastuzumab emtansine): drug safety communication—potential medication errors resulting from name confusion.

May 15, 2013

FDA requiring color changes to Duragesic (fentanyl) pain patches to aid safety―emphasizing that accidental exposure to used patches can cause death.

October 9, 2013

Infections associated with reprocessed flexible bronchoscopes.

September 30, 2015

ReliOn insulin syringes for use with U-100 insulin (Tyco Healthcare-Covidien).

November 19, 2008

Luer Connector Misconnections: Under-Recognized but Potentially Dangerous Events.

August 15, 2012

Hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen tablets, phenobarbital tablets by Qualitest: recall—incorrect package labeling.

February 16, 2011

Important information for the safe use of Tussionex Pennkinetic Extended-Release Suspension.

March 26, 2008

Medical Device Safety Action Plan: Protecting Patients, Promoting Public Health.

June 6, 2018

Computerized Prescriber Order Entry Medication Safety (CPOEMS): Uncovering and Learning From Issues and Errors.

January 13, 2016

Strategic Plan for Preventing and Mitigating Drug Shortages.

November 13, 2013

FDA Safety Communication: update--robotically-assisted surgical devices in mastectomy.

August 20, 2021

Implantable infusion pumps in the magnetic resonance (MR) environment: FDA safety communication—important safety precautions.

January 25, 2017

FDA Safety Communication: use caution with implanted pumps for intrathecal administration of medicines for pain management.

November 28, 2018

FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA requires labeling changes for prescription opioid cough and cold medicines to limit their use to adults 18 years and older.

February 7, 2018

FDA requires label warnings to prohibit sharing of multi-dose diabetes pen devices among patients.

March 11, 2015

Design of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) duodenoscopes may impede effective cleaning.

March 4, 2015

FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA warns about prescribing and dispensing errors resulting from brand name confusion with antidepressant Brintellix (vortioxetine) and antiplatelet Brilinta (ticagrelor).

August 12, 2015

Tamiflu (oseltamivir) for oral suspension: potential medication errors.

October 7, 2009

Relenza (zanamivir) inhalation powder.

October 21, 2009

Potentially fatal errors with GDH-PQQ [glucose dehydrogenase pyrroloquinoline quinone] glucose monitoring technology.

October 21, 2009

Important Warnings and Instructions for Heparin Sodium Injection (Baxter).

February 20, 2008

Heparin sodium injection 10,000 units/mL, and HEP-LOCK U/P 10 units/mL medication errors.

February 21, 2007

Roxane Laboratories initiates a nationwide voluntary recall of a single manufacturing lot of Azathioprine tablets in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

July 26, 2006

An Introduction to the Improved FDA Prescription Drug Labeling.

November 1, 2006

Morphine sulfate oral solution 100 mg per 5 mL (20 mg/mL): medication use error—reports of accidental overdose.

January 19, 2011

Medication errors resulting from confusion between risperidone (Risperdal) and ropinirole (Requip).

June 22, 2011

Using ventilator splitters during the COVID-19 pandemic--letter to health care providers.

February 17, 2021

Accidental exposures to fentanyl patches continue to be deadly to children.

July 21, 2021

Information for healthcare professionals: risk of transmission of blood-borne pathogens from shared use of insulin pens.

April 8, 2009

Clinical Decision Support Software: Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff.

October 3, 2022

Public Health Notification from FDA: Vail Products Enclosed Bed Systems.

December 19, 2007

My Medicines.

July 9, 2014

Drug Shortages: Root Causes and Potential Solutions.

November 13, 2019

FDA Funding Available for Research Aimed at Reducing Preventable Harm from Medication

November 6, 2019

Maalox Total Relief and Maalox Liquid Products: Medication Use Errors.

March 3, 2010

Reprocessing of Reusable Medical Devices.

January 11, 2012

MedWatch: The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program.

June 22, 2005

Differences in strength expression on product labels of compounders and conventional manufacturers may lead to dosing errors.

October 10, 2018

FDA Safety Communication: recommendations to reduce surgical fires and related patient injury.

June 20, 2018

Teaching Kids About Using Medicine Safely.

February 29, 2012

BeSafeRx: Know Your Online Pharmacy.

October 10, 2012

Lock it Up: Medicine Safety in Your Home.

November 30, 2011

FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA cautions about dosing errors when switching between different oral formulations of antifungal Noxafil (posaconazole); label changes approved.

January 13, 2016

OpenFDA.

June 11, 2014

Be an Active Member of Your Health Care Team.

May 21, 2014

FDA MedWatch and Patient Safety Tutorial.

December 10, 2008

Drug Shortages.

April 27, 2011

Letter to Health Care Providers: Safe Use of Surgical Staplers and Staples.

October 7, 2021

FDA Pharmacists Help Consumers Use Medicines Safely.

November 19, 2014

Nimodipine Capsules (marketed as Nimotop).

March 1, 2006

Safety Considerations for Product Design to Minimize Medication Errors: Guidance for Industry.

January 9, 2013

Best Practices in Developing Proprietary Names for Human Prescription Drug Products Guidance for Industry.

December 23, 2020

FDA preliminary public health notification: unpredictable events in medical equipment due to new daylight savings time change.

January 9, 2005

Fentanyl transdermal system (marketed as Duragesic) information.

July 10, 2015

Initiative to Reduce Unnecessary Radiation Exposure from Medical Imaging.

March 3, 2010

FDA public health notification: unretrieved device fragments.

January 30, 2008

Postmarket Drug Safety Information for Patients and Providers.

November 19, 2008

Questions and Answers on FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).

September 17, 2008

Safe Use Initiative.

November 18, 2009

6 Tips to Avoid Medication Mistakes.

July 18, 2007

Quick Tips for Buying Medicines Over the Internet.

March 6, 2005

FDA cautions about dose confusion and medication errors for antibacterial drug Zerbaxa (ceftolozane and tazobactam).

June 3, 2015

Safety Information on Alaris SE Infusion Pumps.

November 15, 2006

Shelhigh, Inc. implantable medical devices.

May 2, 2007

Spotlight Archive.

March 6, 2005

FDASIA Health IT Report: Proposed Strategy and Recommendations for a Risk-Based Framework.

April 30, 2014

FDA Patient Safety News. A Video News Show for Health Professionals.

March 6, 2005

Safety considerations to mitigate the risks of misconnections with small-bore connectors intended for enteral applications.

March 4, 2015

Wear face masks with no metal during MRI exams.

December 16, 2020

Medication Safety During the COVID-19 Pandemic: What Have We Learned in the United States.

June 23, 2020

Bar code label requirement for human drug products and biological products.

March 27, 2005

Serious medication errors from intravenous administration of nimodipine oral capsules.

August 11, 2010

New dosing recommendations to prevent potential Valcyte (valganciclovir) overdose in pediatric transplant patients.

September 29, 2010

MedWatch E-list.

March 6, 2005

Human Factors and Medical Devices.

March 27, 2005

Safety Considerations for Container Labels and Carton Labeling Design to Minimize Medication Errors: Guidance for Industry.

May 25, 2022

Heparin-containing medical devices and combination products: recommendations for labeling and safety testing. Draft guidance for industry and Food and Drug Administration staff.

August 5, 2015

Potential for medication overdose with ENFit low dose tip syringe: FDA Safety Communication.

October 20, 2021

Use duodenoscopes with innovative designs to enhance safety: FDA Safety Communication.

May 4, 2022

Hospital Bed System Dimensional and Assessment Guidance to Reduce Entrapment.

March 22, 2006

SmartTots.

April 13, 2011

FDA/ISMP Safe Medication Management Fellowship Program.

February 8, 2023

Benzocaine sprays marketed under different names, including Hurricaine, Topex, and Cetacaine.

February 22, 2006

Medicines in My Home.

August 2, 2006

FDA advises health care professionals and patients about insulin pen packaging and dispensing.

October 28, 2020

FDA recommends health care professionals discuss naloxone with all patients when prescribing opioid pain relievers or medicines to treat opioid use disorder.

August 5, 2020

Meitheal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. issues voluntary nationwide recall of Cisatracurium Besylate Injection, USP 10mg per 5mL due to mislabeling.

February 10, 2021

FDA alerts health care professionals to the temporary absence of warning statement on the vial caps of two neuromuscular blocking agents.

July 15, 2020

Golden State Medical Supply, Inc. Issues a Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Atenolol 25 mg Tablets and Clopidogrel 75 mg Tablets Due to a Label Mix-up.

October 19, 2022

Related Resources

Medical line entanglement: the unspoken patient safety hazard of medical devices.

May 3, 2023

Examples of Medical Device Misconnections.

March 8, 2023

Home medical device safety tops ECRI'S list of healthcare technology.

February 15, 2023

Causes of adverse events in home mechanical ventilation: a nursing perspective.

October 12, 2022

The hidden risk of wheelchair use.

September 28, 2022

Families’ experiences of central-line infection in children: a qualitative study.

September 7, 2022

Safety Considerations for Container Labels and Carton Labeling Design to Minimize Medication Errors: Guidance for Industry.

May 25, 2022

Analysis of readmissions in a mobile integrated health transitional care program using root cause analysis and common cause analysis.

May 25, 2022

Patient Safety Primers

Post-Acute Transitional Services: Safety in Home-Based Care Programs

April 27, 2022

Potential for medication overdose with ENFit low dose tip syringe: FDA Safety Communication.

October 20, 2021

Letter to Health Care Providers: Safe Use of Surgical Staplers and Staples.

October 7, 2021

Cardinal Health recalls Argyle UVC insertion tray due to missing instructions for use for the Safety Scalpel N11.

September 1, 2021

FDA Safety Communication: update--robotically-assisted surgical devices in mastectomy.

August 20, 2021

Accidental exposures to fentanyl patches continue to be deadly to children.

July 21, 2021

A qualitative study of what care workers do to provide patient safety at home through telecare.

June 23, 2021

Testing and Labeling Medical Devices for Safety in the Magnetic Resonance (MR) Environment.

June 2, 2021

Patient Safety Innovations

Project BOOST Increases Patient Understanding of Treatment and Follow-up Care

May 26, 2021

Engineering care transitions: clinician perceptions of barriers to safe medication management during transitions of patient care.

May 19, 2021

Communication on safe caregiving between community nurse case managers and family caregivers.

April 7, 2021

Speak Up [brochures].

April 1, 2021

Patient Safety Innovations

Care Managers Use Software-Aided Medication Review Protocol for Frail, Community-Dwelling Seniors, Leading to More Appropriate Medication Use

March 31, 2021

Education and training of nurses in the use of advanced medical technologies in home care related to patient safety: a cross-sectional survey.

March 24, 2021

FDA advises health care professionals and patients about insulin pen packaging and dispensing.

October 28, 2020

The risks of the prescribing cascade.

September 16, 2020

Sent home to die.

September 16, 2020

Advancing Patient Safety: Reviews From the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Making Healthcare Safer III Report.

September 2, 2020

Identifying no-harm incidents in home healthcare: a cohort study using trigger tool methodology.

August 5, 2020

Care Compare.

July 1, 2020

FDA alerts patients and health care professionals of EpiPen auto-injector errors related to device malfunctions and user administration.

April 8, 2020

Homecare safety virtual quality improvement collaboratives

February 26, 2020

See More About The Topic

Device-Related Complications