Smart Pumps 2016
The Quest for Patient Safety

Evident in their high levels of drug-library compliance, Baxter Healthcare’s LVP users feel the pump’s strong ease of use improves patient safety and enables quick access to the drug library. A large number of BD customers also achieve high compliance, which many credit to BD’s reports and guidance. Unlike Pfizer’s newer pumps, the Plum A+ does not automatically direct users to the library, resulting in lower compliance levels. The drug-library functionality and navigation in B. Braun’s Infusomat Space do not surpass that of their older Outlook ES; issues exist with drug-library updates, boluses, and piggybacks.

Patient safety requires more than drug-library compliance—bidirectional EMR integration is named by providers as the most important next step for improving safety. Such integration eliminates pump-programming errors and is a top criteria in today’s purchasing decisions. BD’s Alaris has the most customers live with integration, is the most purchased pump, and is multimodular. Pfizer’s Plum A+ has the second highest number of integrated customers. Baxter’s pumps are highly functional but lack bidirectional EMR integration. B. Braun has glitchy software and inconsistent support.

Providers want reports that give them actionable compliance data, such as which users bypass the drug library and which pumps and infusion types are problematic. No vendor today consistently delivers this. Most BD customers report receiving helpful compliance reports, and a limited number are starting to also get more data and actionable insights—at additional cost—that help reduce alarm fatigue. Pfizer customers find their reports less actionable. Under 60% of Baxter respondents say their reports help with compliance. Fewer B. Braun or Smiths Medical customers regularly get reports as many have yet to deploy wireless functionality.