'Early warning systems' for identifying new healthcare technologies.

Abstract

Health Technology Assessment is indexed in Index Medicus/MEDLINE and Excerpta Medica/ EMBASE. Copies of the Executive Summaries are available from the NCCHTA web site (see overleaf). NHS R&D HTA Programme T he overall aim of the NHS R&D Health Technology Assessment (HTA) programme is to ensure that high-quality research information on the costs, effectiveness and broader impact of health technologies is produced in the most efficient way for those who use, manage and work in the NHS. Research is undertaken in those areas where the evidence will lead to the greatest benefits to patients, either through improved patient outcomes or the most efficient use of NHS resources. The Standing Group on Health Technology advises on national priorities for health technology assessment. Six advisory panels assist the Standing Group in identifying and prioritising projects. These priorities are then considered by the HTA Commissioning Board supported by the National Coordinating Centre for HTA (NCCHTA). This report is one of a series covering acute care, diagnostics and imaging, methodology, pharmaceuticals, population screening, and primary and community care. It was identified as a priority by the Methodology Panel and funded as project number 94/10/02. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Standing Group, the Commissioning Board, the Panel members or the Department of Health. The editors wish to emphasise that funding and publication of this research by the NHS should not be taken as implicit support for the recommendations for policy contained herein. In particular, policy options in the area of screening will be considered by the National Screening Committee. This Committee, chaired by the Chief Medical Officer, will take into account the views expressed here, further available evidence and other relevant considerations. Reviews in Health Technology Assessment are termed 'systematic' when the account of the search, appraisal and synthesis methods (to minimise biases and random errors) would, in theory, permit the replication of the review by others.

Making Processes Reliable: A Validated Pubmed Search Strategy for Identifying New or Emerging Technologies

“…For the medical specialties assessed, we have found that more than 90 percent of the technologies identified were first published in field specific medical journals different to those high impact journals selected for study purposes. Even though this finding is not completely new, because it has been previously acknowledged that early case series, case reports or uncontrolled trials that influence early adopters are frequently published in many different specialized medical journals (15), this is the first time that the search yield of key research medical journals for identification of new or emerging technologies is quantitatively assessed. The findings show that these sources are relatively inefficient for early identification of new or emerging technologies.…”

Accuracy of Thoracic Vertebral Body Screw Placement Using Standard Fluoroscopy, Fluoroscopic Image Guidance, and Computed Tomographic Image Guidance

“…Because these new technologies may be used in common procedures, involve expensive equipment, and require time of highly specialized providers, they can have a dramatic impact on health services. 32 Technological innovation, however, does not necessarily translate into improved health care delivery or end results of treatment. For image-guided spinal surgery, the actual benefits to surgeons and patients remain to be defined clearly.…”

Emerging health technologies: Informing and supporting health policy early

“…Medical devices -the distinction between new and emerging here is less clear -will be prior to marketing or within 6 months of marketing or marketed but <10% diffused or localised to a few centres [13]. This comes down to a time horizon of 0-5 years before introduction [10,14].…”

“…There are also several attempts to classify the huge number of sources offering information on health technologies. The most common is the classification into primary, secondary and tertiary sources, determined according to the proximity to the origin of innovation [14].…”

“…On the other hand, experts are sometimes the main or sole source for identifying new technologies, their applications, and their relevance, which is important for subsequent prioritization. Experts are therefore a key source to any HSS [14,22]. Another advantage of experts is that data can be collated quickly and cheaply.…”