Global healthcare patient safety nonprofit expands footprint in Canada

ECRI, an independent nonprofit organization improving the quality and safety of healthcare, has expanded operations in Canada, building on its 20-year history partnering with healthcare leaders in nearly every Canadian province.

ECRI’s work in Canada has included longtime collaborations with government ministries of health, health authorities and their procurement agency, hospitals and associated agencies, and healthcare provider networks. In Ontario, ECRI partners with large integrated delivery networks and approximately 20 hospitals, health alliances and health centers across the province.

The nonprofit recently solidified its licensed operations in Canada and expanded its team of healthcare experts with a presence in eastern and western Canada.

“Expanding our footprint in Canada is an exciting milestone in our trajectory as an organization, as we continue scaling operations around the world,” said ECRI President and CEO Marcus Schabacker. “The challenges our partners in Canada face are similar to those we are tackling elsewhere: balancing the growing demand for services with limited resources, navigating workforce shortages, improving equitable access to care, and maximizing the efficient and impactful use of Canadians’ healthcare tax dollars. We must collaborate to build a resilient healthcare system that meets the needs of every Canadian.”

ECRI has provided healthcare leaders in Canada with data-driven insights in supply chain and spend management; clinical evidence assessments; forecasts on emerging medical technologies; and early alerts on malfunctioning medical devices along with their safer, functional equivalents. ECRI has supported Canadian healthcare providers through numerous trainings on improving patient safety, leading causal analysis, and mitigating risks identified in ECRI’s Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns of 2024.

Canada has become ECRI’s fifth international office location since its founding more than 60 years ago in Pennsylvania. ECRI serves healthcare entities in more than 70 countries across North America, the United Kingdom, Middle East and Asia-Pacific region. In America, ECRI employees operate in 70% of the U.S. states. The nonprofit also operates the world’s only independent medical device testing laboratories in Pennsylvania and Malaysia.

About ECRI

ECRI is an independent, nonprofit organization improving the safety, quality, and cost-effectiveness of care across all healthcare settings. With a focus on technology evaluation and safety, ECRI is trusted by healthcare leaders and agencies worldwide. ECRI is designated an Evidence-based Practice Center by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. ECRI and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices PSO is a federally certified Patient Safety Organization as designated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Visit www.ecri.org.