ECRI (originally founded as Emergency Care Research Institute) is an independent nonprofit organization tasked with "improving the safety, quality, and cost-effectiveness of care across all healthcare settings worldwide."
 ECRI headquarters in Plymouth Meeting | |
| Formation | 1968 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Joel J. Nobel |
| Focus | Healthcare research |
| Location | |
Area served | Worldwide |
President/CEO | Marcus Schabacker |
| Peter Catalano | |
| Lea Rubini | |
Employees | 550 |
| Website | ecri |
History edit
In the early 1960s, Joel J. Nobel, a surgeon and inventor, founded the institute[1] after a four-year-old boy died when a resuscitator failed to work. Nobel utilized the institute to focus on improving cardiopulmonary resuscitation technology, design, and deployment.
Among Nobel's inventions was the MAX Cart, a mobile resuscitation system.[2] Designed and patented in 1965 during Nobel's residency at Pennsylvania Hospital, the cart carries instruments for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other medical supplies while functioning as a support litter. A prototype is in the permanent collection of the Medicine and Science Division of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.[3] In 1966, Life profiled the invention in a feature called "MAX, the Lifesaver."[4]
ECRI began comparative evaluations of medical device brands and models in 1971. Since its designation as an Evidence-based Practice Center with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) in 1997,[5] it has undertaken reviews of clinical procedures using meta-analysis for the Medicare program, other federal and state agencies, and clinical specialty organizations.
In 2001, Jeffrey C. Lerner became ECRI Institute's second president and CEO. In 2018, Marcus Schabacker became ECRI's third president and CEO.[6]
The Institute for Safe Medication Practices became an ECRI affiliate in 2020.[7]
The organization rebranded as ECRI Institute in 2007.[8] On March 8, 2020, the organization rebranded as ECRI.[9][10]
Designations edit
ECRI Patient Safety Organization was listed as a federal patient safety organization by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005.[11][12]
ECRI entered into a licensing agreement to adapt the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Reporting System (PA-PSRS), to meet Pennsylvania-specific reporting requirements. The resulting PA-PSRS system is fully owned by the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority.[13]
Services edit
The organization was the sole prime contractor for developing and maintaining AHRQ's National Guideline Clearinghouse, a database of clinical practice guidelines, since its inception in 1998 and the National Quality Measures Clearinghouse,[14] a database of evidence-based healthcare quality measures, since its inception in 2001. Both contracts ended in July 2018 due to the lack of federal funding through AHRQ to continue their operation.[15]
ECRI Institute created and maintains the Universal Medical Device Nomenclature System (UMDNS).[16][17]
References edit
- ^ "ECRI Institute. YouTube. Retrieved 5 March 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWGQwC3pjRo"
- ^ "ECRI Institute. YouTube. Retrieved 5 March 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92Vpc5mFMjA"
- ^ "National Museum of American History Collects Prototype Medical Emergency Crash Cart". Smithsonian National Museum of American History Behring Center. August 31, 2010. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
- ^ "Max, the Lifesaver". Life Magazine: 35–36. January 28, 1966.
- ^ "Evidence-based Practice Centers [website]. Website. Retrieved 27 Feb 2014. http://www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/evidence-based-reports/overview/index.html"
- ^ Institute, ECRI. "Dr. Marcus Schabacker Named ECRI Institute's New Chief Executive Officer and President". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
- ^ "Two Patient Safety Leaders Announce Formal Affiliation". ECRI. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
- ^ "ECRI History". Retrieved March 15, 2024.
- ^ "Introducing ECRI, The Most Trusted Voice in Healthcare". March 8, 2020.
- ^ "ECRI History". Retrieved March 15, 2024.
- ^ "ECRI Institute Patient Safety Organization". ECRI Institute. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
- ^ "Federally-Listed PSOs | AHRQ Patient Safety Organization Program". www.pso.ahrq.gov. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
- ^ Authority, Pennsylvania Patient Safety. "PA-PSRS | PA-PSRS". Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
- ^ "National Quality Measures Clearinghouse [website]. Website. Retrieved 20 Feb 2014. http://www.qualitymeasures.ahrq.gov/ Archived 2014-02-20 at the Wayback Machine"
- ^ "About NGC and NQMC". Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
- ^ "UMLS Metathesaurus - UMD (UMDNS) - Synopsis". www.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
- ^ "WHO | Nomenclature of medical devices". WHO. Archived from the original on September 3, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2020.