In order to reduce the lag time between manufacturer action and FDA posting, the FDA announced in January that it would begin posting product recalls in the Medical Device Recall database before the agency’s own classification procedure ran its course. It will be a marked improvement from how things have been in the past, maintains biomedical expert William Hyman, ScD.

When handled well—with the right messages—product recalls can improve a brand or company image. On the other hand, if a recall is handled badly, the damage can be fatal. The level of preparedness by a manufacturer going through a crisis can make or break its ongoing success and vitality. Fortunately, reacting quickly and being proactive with messaging is possible. It just takes adequate preparation.

ECRI Institute has released Automatch for Equipment, a new enhancement to its Alerts Tracker automated recall management solution. The feature is designed to automatically identify equipment models and supplies within a healthcare facility’s inventory that are impacted by an FDA alert or recall and notify designated department staff, reducing the need for manual inventory searches.

Biomeds don’t only need to understand the distinction between FDA-cleared and FDA-approved devices for the medical equipment selection process, writes William Hyman. By using the proper terminology, they can help educate clinicians as well.