Soom, a healthcare technology startup, has launched a mobile app – called SoomSafety – that provides nurses, patients and caregivers with alerts for medical device recalls. The app delivers recall information directly from the device manufacturer and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The company says its app is the first of its kind to bridge the information gap between the FDA, manufacturers and users. In 2019 alone, there were 26 medical device recalls that affected nearly 50 million individual devices in the United States.
Many patients are completely unaware of these recalls.
The SoomSafety app uses openFDA, which is an open-source database that allows developers to incorporate FDA data into their applications. Users can simply scan the barcode on their device using the app, and it will automatically identify the device and store it inside of the app. The app can even identify and store implant devices, including artificial joints and pacemakers, by scanning the barcode on the user’s medical device identification card.
Once the user has scanned and stored the device, the app will check for FDA recall information and detail the next steps to take if a recall is issued through push notifications. The app also provides safety and use information for each stored device.
The goal of SoomSafety, according to Soom, is to help patients find peace of mind in knowing that they will be notified if their medical devices are recalled.
“I’ve experienced first-hand what it feels like to wonder if a medical device that your loved one uses—relies on—is safe,” said Charlie Kim, CEO and president of Soom. “It’s a feeling that no patient, parent or caregiver should have to endure. That’s why at Soom we’re dedicated to finding new ways to use technology to ensure clarity and confidence in the medical devices we use.”
