“No Drug Selected” = Taking the Smart Out of Smart Pumps
Smart pumps with dose error reduction software (DERS) support organizations in creating a tailored library of medications with associated dosing guidelines. By establishing dosing limits and alerts within DERS, organizations can use smart pumps to detect dosing and programming errors that may harm patients. This safety bulletin outlines situations in which bypassing the drug library and DERS takes the “smart” out of smart pumps. It also describes the risks associated with bypassing this software and offers strategies to increase the use of this technology.
Sidebar: New Pan-Canadian Diversion Risk Assessment Tool