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Online survey results: Half of hospitals don’t use smart pumps

Patient Safety Monitor Alert, March 4, 2004

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Medication administration errors are difficult to detect. And although some IV pumps are designed to alert clinicians when they have programmed a dose that is outside of the hospital's acceptable range, some hospitals appear reluctant to switch to the so-called "smart" pumps, according to a recent survey of visitors to this Web site.

If your hospital is still on the fence, consider this: In its annual report on medication errors, the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) found at least 1,846 errors that involved infusion pumps, usually because staff programmed the pumps incorrectly.

For example, a 60-year-old patient had an order for an initial meperidine dose of 20 mg, followed by 10 mg every 12 minutes. The dose was not to exceed 180 mg over four hours.

The patient became unresponsive after receiving an initial 170-mg dose after a staff member programmed the pump incorrectly, according to the USP report.

...And this: The JCAHO's fifth National Patient Safety Goal requires organizations to improve the safety of their infusion pump use. The JCAHO wants facilities to use infusion pumps that avoid free, or uncontrolled, flow of the solution. Facilities should also focus on programming the pumps correctly to ensure the patient receives the proper dose.

ü Tip: Clearly label IV bags with the patient name, medication, dosage, and infusion rate.

ü Tip: When possible, target high-alert IV drugs for automation in the prescribing phase, as well as throughout the entire medication use process.

"JCAHO standards and goals require organizations to address many of these issues, yet the sheer volume and repetition of medication errors should be a clear call to action for the healthcare community to do more," the USP urges.

What we asked: Does your facility use smart IV infusion pumps, which notify nurses when they have programmed a dose for patients that is outside the hospital's acceptable range?

What you said:

Yes: 40%

No: 30%

I'm not sure: 17%

No, but we're looking into it: 13%

Total responses:  51

Take our next survey: Does your hospital allow staff and employees to smoke? Click here and scroll down the right side of the page to answer.

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