In Verde Valley Medical Center’s continuing commitment to patient safety, the use of Alaris Smart Pump units will go into effect June 15 for those patients requiring intravenous (IV) medications. Nationally, IV medications are considered a high risk method of medicating a patient because it goes directly into the blood stream, and any error will quickly be absorbed into the body. This is why there is a great deal of technological focus on IV medications. There are numerous studies and advances assisting in making IVs safer and more efficient to use.

The Smart Pumps at VVMC are programmable IV pumps designed to decrease the risk of medication errors and make IV medications even more efficient. They include the most updated technology available, and ensure safe medication and dosing parameters are set. The computerized devices include an extensive drug library of all medications currently available in the VVMC Pharmacy. Dose limits are specified, and an alarm sounds when the input information conflicts with the preprogrammed information. Potential errors can be caught by the preprogrammed settings of the device, which are hospital specific.

Another of the abilities of the smart infusion pumps is to regulate medication dosages. The Smart Pumps even have a back up technology that will alert the hospital if the input information is out of predetermined safe levels. All members of the multidisciplinary team of caregivers who will be using the Smart Pumps are being trained on use of the equipment, and there are checks and double checks in place to ensure the highest quality of care.