Smart Pump/EMR Integration
What Are My Best Options?

1. MOMENTUM: CAREFUSION HAS INTEGRATED THE MOST NEW ORGANIZATIONS

CareFusion has surpassed all other pump vendors to have the most organizations live with integration, having added seven since the last report. Hospira, despite FDA recalls and the sunsetting of the Symbiq pump, has added four. B. Braun and Baxter have made smaller gains, adding one and two organizations, respectively. Smiths Medical recently received FDA clearance for auto documentation with their syringe pump and is in the process of identifying a few hospitals for integration.

2. CAREFUSION LEADS IN FUNCTIONALITY BREADTH

CareFusion has the most organizations adopting bidirectional integration, which providers define as autoprogramming and autodocumentation. They are also the only vendor live with syringe pump integration (in five organizations). Their customers are the most confident that pump integration is ready for widespread adoption. Hospira, like CareFusion, is integrated with Cerner and Epic and is the only pump vendor integrated with Cerner Soarian. Baxter still has only one-way integration, with no timeline for when autoprogramming will be available. B. Braun customers report that glitches have caused adoption issues.

3. CERNER CLEAR LEADER IN PUMP INTEGRATION; EPIC CUSTOMERS CONFIDENT

Cerner, whose efforts with CareAware iBus (a device connectivity platform) helped pioneer smart pump/EMR integration, has continued to advance the market, with three times more integrated organizations (15) than the next closest EMR vendor. They integrate with all four main LVP vendors, of which their partnership with CareFusion is the most proven. Epic’s development has been more reactive, and they integrate only with CareFusion and Hospira. However, early data shows high customer confidence in the integration. Allscripts has several customers in process, though none yet live. Neither McKesson nor MEDITECH offers integration.

4. OUTSIDE OF INTEGRATION, BAXTER AND CAREFUSION ARE NECK AND NECK IN OVERALL CUSTOMER SATISFACTION

CareFusion is praised for dependable, quality pumps and for keeping promises. They are the only vendor to have wireless functionality for all three modules (LVP, PCA, and syringe). Baxter is rated high for strong implementations and reliable, easy-to-use pumps. B. Braun customers complain of a lack of development, spotty support, and glitchy pumps. Hospira receives lower scores for a limited drug library and poor customer relationships, due in part to the sunsetting of the Symbiq pump.