Focused on Patient Safety, VA to Host Summit Launching a National Registry for Medical Implant Devices

WASHINGTON — In collaboration with three federal agencies and several academic leaders, the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will host a national summit June 4 in Washington, D.C., focused on launching the nation’s largest health-system, medical-implant tracking program.

The implant registry collaboration with U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Department of Defense and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will enable VA to monitor the safety of devices in Veterans and their families, track quality metrics and ensure the best possible care for patients.

Further, a medical device registry will allow VA to notify patients about safety recalls, identify devices when patients show up for medical emergencies with complications and track and compare outcomes of implants. The most common medical devices in the Veteran population may include: cardiac implants (valves, pacemakers, stents), orthopedic implants (hip and knee) and neurosurgical implants.

The public is invited to view online. The summit will be broadcast live in two parts and will be streamed at the following links: morning Session 1, from 8:30-11:30 a.m. (EST) https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/89/25950; afternoon Session 2, from 12:30-4:30 p.m. (EST)  https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/89/25951.