How Smart IV Pumps Benefit Hospitals and Clinics

When it comes to fluid administration for patients, there are two main options: manual or via electric IV pump. Infusion pumps have long been considered the preferred way of delivering fluids such as essential nutrients or medications to a patient in controlled doses. In particular, popular smart pumps such as Alaris and Hospira pumps can be found throughout hospitals and clinics around the country.

The smart IV pumps, such as the Alaris and Hospira devices, can be programmed by trained professionals to provide the correct dose, flow, and duration of fluids to mitigate the risk of error or overdose. This gives these types of smart pumps an advantage over manual methods, as fluid administration can be better monitored with the built-in software. Precise fluid volumes, flow rates, and timed intervals can easily be set and automated. When programmed correctly, smart IV pumps can help significantly lower the risk of human error.

Because IV pumps are responsible for administering crucial fluids such as medications and nutrients, pump failures, or incorrect doses can put patients at risk. To mitigate these issues, smart units like Alaris and Hospira pumps come with built-in safety features. These can include alarms that alert operators to problems. Alarms include air detection in the IV line or blockage alarms; there are also alerts that signal when the set parameters for a particular medication are outside of the safe limits. For large hospital environments where pumps are often switched between floors and patients, these alerts can help prevent unsafe dosing and other medication errors that could potentially cause injury.

Smart pumps are vital tools when it comes to accurately and safely administering fluids to patients. While smart pumps are not perfect, the safety parameters that monitor dose levels and alert users to unsafe input levels can be crucial when it comes to cutting down on medication errors. Additionally, features like this make a difference if pumps are shared on various floors.

If your hospital or clinic needs IV pumps, smart units like Alaris or Hospira pumps are something you should consider. With their array of built-in features, they can help provide the correct level of fluids, as well as make the process a little bit safer for patients and staff alike.