ECRI Launches Information Clearinghouse for Medical Device-Related Disaster Relief

Main Category: Medical Devices / Diagnostics
Article Date: 13 Sep 2005 - 1:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

Over 8,000 device manufacturers contacted to aid healthcare facilities affected by Hurricane Katrina -

ECRI, a nonprofit health services research agency, announces its launch of a Web-based clearinghouse for information on medical device-related disaster relief to benefit healthcare facilities affected by Hurricane Katrina. To initiate the Katrina relief effort, ECRI drew upon its database of medical device manufacturers, service companies, and distributors listed in its comprehensive online database-Health Devices International Sourcebase-and asked over 8,000 North American companies to submit information on all products or services being offered to help with the disaster relief effort.

The Katrina Medical Technology Information Clearinghouse is accessible from ECRI's main Web page at http://www.ecri.org . Developed as a public service in the wake of the unprecedented disaster in the Gulf region, ECRI's clearinghouse provides a central resource that healthcare facilities can turn to for information related to medical devices, supplies, and services being offered by manufacturers worldwide. Also, ECRI has provided a number of its resources, including company directories and guidance articles on emergency preparedness.

"One of the biggest challenges in the aftermath of this disaster is helping affected healthcare facilities find out what medical products and services are available and how to obtain them," states James Keller, M.S., ECRI's vice president for health technology evaluation and safety. "The most urgent need at this time is for information related to chronic care, such as dialysis, infusion therapy, and diabetes," he says.

ECRI
A Nonprofit Agency
5200 Butler Pike
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
T +1 (610) 825-6000, ext. 5310
F +1 (610) 834-1275
communications@ecri.org
http://www.ecri.org

• Additional
• References
• Citations