For almost 20 years, the global health care security organization ECRI has published a list of the 10 most critical threats related to health technologies. This year’s edition culminates in a rapidly changing technology that holds enormous promise for healthcare, but is rife with downside risks: artificial intelligence.
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
“While AI has the potential to improve effectiveness and outcomes, it poses significant risks to patients if not properly assessed and managed,” ECRI said in announcing the 2025 report.
“Artificial intelligence has expanded from its early applications in medical imaging to impact virtually every area of healthcare, including diagnosis, documentation and appointment scheduling. Even AI applications involving assistive systems that are not regulated as medical devices can have a profound impact on patient care,’ according to ECRI.
Of particular concern, of course, are AI hallucinations or other misleading feedback from improperly calibrated algorithms. The researchers note that the results of machine learning models – especially when those models are trained on biased data – can vary significantly across patient populations, posing health equity and patient safety risks for underrepresented or underserved communities.
The 10 biggest health technology threats according to ECRI in 2025:
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ECRI defines a technological health risk as “a defect in a device or system, a design feature, or a method of use that may, under certain circumstances, place patients or users at risk.”
The group takes a so-called “total systems approach to safety” that aims to support healthcare professionals, administrators, device manufacturers, policymakers, researchers and patients themselves reduce preventable harm while providing care.
Its teams focus on various aspects – human factors, engineering, device security, drug safety, infection control – that influence and result from technology implementation in healthcare settings, and work to recommend system-wide security solutions.
ECRI notes that the topics and technologies listed each year “are not necessarily the most frequently reported issues or those associated with the most serious consequences”, although these factors are the main factor taken into account.
Instead, the annual report reflects his assessment of “what risks should be addressed now to help healthcare providers, device manufacturers and others prioritize their patient safety efforts.”
The full Top 10 Health Technology Risks report for ECRI members details steps health systems, providers and other IT leaders are taking to reduce patient safety risks. Access the executive brief Here.
A BIGGER TREND
ECRI’s 2024 list included several similar topics, focusing on the risks of remote patient monitoring and other home medical devices (No. 1) and the insufficient management of artificial intelligence (No. 5). In recent years, we have focused on threats related to infusion pumps and software management vulnerabilities, and, of course, cybersecurity threats such as ransomware.
ON RECORDING
“The promise of artificial intelligence must not distract us from its risks or potential for harm to patients and healthcare providers,” Dr. Marcus Schabacker, president and CEO of ECRI, said in a statement. “Balancing innovation in artificial intelligence with privacy and security will be one of the most challenging and defining endeavors in contemporary medicine.
“Artificial intelligence is only as good as the data it transmits and the guardrails governing its use,” he added. “Health care industry stakeholders at all levels must think critically about AI integration, as with any new technology.”