title: Design considerations for medical devices in the home environment.
abstract: Patient demographics, economic forces, and technological advancements contribute to the rise in home care services. Advanced medical devices and equipment originally designed for use by trained personnel in hospitals and clinics are increasingly migrating into the home. Unlike the clinical setting, the home is an uncontrolled environment with additional hazards. The compatibility of the device with the recipient's knowledge, abilities, lifestyle, and home environment plays a significant role in their therapy and rehabilitation. The advent of new device technologies such as wireless devices and interoperability of systems lends a new and complex perspective for medical device use in the home that must also be addressed. Adequately assessing and matching the patient and their caregiver with the appropriate device technology while considering the suitability of the home environment for device operation and maintenance is a challenge that relies on good human factors principles. There is a need to address these challenges in the growing home care sector In this article, the authors take a look at some important considerations and design issues for medical devices used in the home care environment.
authors: U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), USA. Diana.Rivi@fda.hhs.gov
authors: Diana
authors: D
authors: Kaufman-Rivi
authors: Janette
authors: J
authors: Collins-Mitchell
authors: Raoul
authors: R
authors: Jetley
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D004867:Equipment Design; D004864:Equipment and Supplies / Q000592:standards*; D006804:Ergonomics; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D018511:Systems Integration