5 Ways to Extend the Life of Your Infusion Pump

Your hospital or healthcare facility likely relies on medical equipment like infusion pumps to ensure that your patients receive the best possible care. The market for this equipment continues to grow, and by 2024, it's expected to be valued at $5,016 million on a global scale. That said, any facility doesn’t want to pay for the unnecessary expense of premature replacement. If you want to maintain your IV infusion pumps in good working order and maximize their lifespan, you'll want to follow these tips.

1. Replace the Batteries: It may seem obvious, but you'd be surprised to learn how many staff members are quick to assume their equipment needs to be repaired or replaced when a worn-out battery is actually to blame. IV pumps that are not plugged in might seem to fail completely but may just need their batteries changed. If you can recognize when these batteries finally need to be replaced, you could reduce the likelihood of error codes and additional pump purchases.

2. Clean as Directed: Following proper procedures for cleaning IV infusion pumps will keep both the clinical staff and patients safe. It'll also prevent the chance of damaging the pumps. Using improper cleaning solutions or techniques can cause irreparable harm to these devices. If staff members fail to clean and maintain the power cords properly, wiring issues may not be repairable. But if cabling problems are detected early, those components may be able to be repaired or replaced, which is far better than having to replace the entire unit.

3. Perform Repairs Immediately: It's important that staff members not simply disregard malfunctioning pumps as equipment that needs to be automatically disposed of and replaced. In some cases, they can be easily and affordably repaired. That said, this does need to be done quickly to ensure patient satisfaction and safety. If you cannot repair your IV infusion pumps in-house with your Biomed department, you can send them to the manufacturer or to a reputable third party. But it's important that you don't delay so that your staff won't experience an undue burden. Regular inspections are essential for this reason, too; the faster problems can be diagnosed, the faster they can be fixed.

4. Update System Software: Just like your desktop computer or phone, medical technology works best when it's running on an up-to-date system. Software updates and system upgrades will keep your infusion pumps running smoothly and will prevent medical errors more effectively. Antiquated software systems won't support your needs forever. It's better to switch over to updated systems as soon as they're available to ensure compliance and effectiveness.

5. Train Your Staff: If you want to keep your IV infusion pumps in working order and reduce preventable errors, you need to make ongoing staff training a priority. While smart pumps are meant to reduce critical mistakes; your staff members need to follow all operational recommendations, too. In fact, most problems that do occur with medical equipment result from human error, rather than technological failure. Make sure staff members know how to avoid common issues and diagnose prevalent problems. There are resources online that can teach you and ensure the proper use of these pumps. If this equipment is utilized correctly, it'll last far longer.

Without a doubt, IV infusion pumps can make our lives much easier. But you'll need to do your part to keep them running as intended. If you follow these tips, you'll be able to make medical equipment last much longer and ensure your staff provides the best patient care possible.