Guidelines

Guidelines for Optimizing Safe Implementation and Use of Smart Infusion Pumps

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ISMP’s first smart infusion pump summit examined smart pump implementation, drug libraries, and clinical practice, and resulted in the publication of a first set of recommendations in 2009. Since then, smart infusion pump technology has evolved, and is now used by nearly all US hospitals. It also has expanded well into ambulatory settings.

A second national summit was held in 2018 to discuss issues raised by errors reported to the ISMP National Medication Errors Reporting Program (ISMP MERP) and published in the literature since the original guidelines were issued. The second summit has led to newly revised and expanded ISMP Guidelines for Optimizing Safe Implementation and Use of Smart Infusion Pumps.

The safe practice statements accessible below are designed to support optimization of smart infusion pump technology and to assist organizations in their transition to interoperability. Specific error-reduction strategies are presented in the guidelines to address:

  • Infrastructure
  • Drug Libraries
  • Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Data
  • Clinical Workflow
  • Interoperability with the Electronic Health Record (EHR)


For additional support for the implementation and adoption of safe practices associated with the use of smart infusion pumps, check out our Consulting Services


How to cite: Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP). ISMP Guidelines for Optimizing Safe Implementation and Use of Smart Infusion Pumps. ISMP; 2020. https://www.ismp.org/node/972 

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