Reports suggest that smart pumps reduce but do not eliminate drug infusion errors. So, how can the risks associated with smart pump use be effectively managed and patient safety improved?
Infusion pumps have contributed to improvements in patient care, allowing for a greater level of control, accuracy, and precision in drug delivery – thereby reducing medication errors. The latest smart infusion pumps, are designed to alert the user when there is a risk of an adverse drug interaction, or when the user sets the pump’s parameters outside of specified safety limits.1
However, should their use be mandated or increased in the UK, and what is the evidence to support their use? Are there risks associated with smart infusion pumps and how could the technology be implemented more effectively? This article provides an insight into key reports and expert opinion, in a bid to highlight some of the important issues that need to be understood and addressed
Why is there a need for ‘smarter’ pumps?
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