When medical professionals need to regulate the amount and rate of fluids given by IV, there are two ways to accomplish this task. While the manual method has been around for a long time, the electric pump method has been the technology of choice since its introduction to the market in the 1960s. But even though hospitals and medical facilities use infusion pumps every day, not every staff member will be familiar with some of the terms associated with the device. We've explained some of the most important terms in today's helpful glossary post.

        Independent double check: This is when two clinicians check the infusion settings separately and then compare their results to make sure they comply with the supervising doctor's orders. This helps reduce errors in various settings.

Loading dose: The total dose of opioid required in the PCA pump, dispensed automatically or by a medical professional in a recovery setting.

Lockout Interval: This is the time period before the pump can deliver the next dose. The pump will refuse to give further doses (regardless of any further requests made by the patient) until the time limit is over. Using a smart pump in a PCA setup helps reduce user error.

Over- or under-infusion: A condition in which fluid or medication is delivered to the patient in higher or lower amounts than expected. These errors can occur more frequently when the smart IV pump is not used or when training is insufficient.

Patient-Controlled Analgesia: The PCA pump provides more motivation for patients, allowing them to better control their pain. These pumps are equipped with safeguards to ensure analgesics are delivered in a safe manner while reducing the need for patients to feel uncomfortable before taking a new dose.

Smart Pump: An infusion pump that contains error-prevention software for IV medication. These pumps alert users when settings exceed pre-programmed limits to prevent medical errors.

Syringe Infusion Pump: An external pump device that uses a motor, plunger, and piston syringe to hold fluid and control fluid delivery.

Misuse: Unsafe and ineffective use of medical devices and treatments. This type of use can lead to errors that can cause harm or harm to the patient. Understanding why and how usage errors occur is critical to improving the healthcare environment and patient care. Often, smart pumps can mitigate many of these errors. However, proper and continuous training also plays a key role.

We hope this post on infusion pump terminology will help everyone within your organization increase their knowledge of the subject. Feel free to share this information with others.

To learn more about how our medical devices can improve your overall facility, contact us today.