Healthcare Technology … The Latest is NOT Always the Greatest

Social Media – Healthcare 

The Orthopedic Minute:

 Shiny New Objects: Not Always in Your Best Interest

Every shiny new object that appears on the healthcare scene may not actually be in your best interest. The Institute of Medicine recently asked the FDA to look into their fast track (510(k)) approval process because of issues found years after certain devices had been implanted in thousands of patients.

The Institute of Medicine’s much-anticipated independent review of the FDA’s 510(k) clearance program for medical devices recommended that the entire program be scrapped in favor of a new protocol to ensure the devices are safe and effective.

 The FDA, it appears,  wasn’t impressed with what the IOM said… so the fast track approval process remains in place, for now.

What does that mean for you?  It means that patients, and doctors can’t really be sure that the latest technological advancements or offerings are going to be in their best interest.  Many are skeptical that the FDA is acting in the public’s best interest.   Medications recently taken off the shelves in many countries around the world, remain on the shelves in the US because the FDA doesn’t feel it poses a significant risk.  Many patients with metal on metal hip replacements— as opposed to the gold standard metal on plastic — now have to undergo testing as recommended by the FDA to see if the metal ions floating around patient’s bodies are an issue.  

Those of you considering surgery that may utilize the latest in joint replacement technologies would be well served by doing your research and asking your doctor about whether or not you want to be an early adopter or stick with the gold standards that have served patients very well for many decades.    

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