The smart infusion pumps on the market right now deliver controlled rates of medication in addition to having the capacity to store entire lists of medications that a hospital contains. Pumps also store information on concentration and dose limits of each medication in the hospital's library. There are different dose limits based on different care units (i.e. operating rooms, intensive care units, etc) and the smart pumps can tell the nurse when a dose limit is exceeded.


Dose limits and concentration levels aren't the only technological software programs that smart pumps contain; they now boast error reduction software like NHS's Dose Error Reduction Systems for infusion pumps (DERS) and Computerized Provider Order Entry systems (CPOE).

The main function of DERS is to decrease pump programming errors and injuries related to such errors. According to the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA), adverse drug events (ADEs) are the cause of about 24% of the total number of medication incidents. It also turns out that 61% of the most serious ADEs are IV-drug related. The DERS intercepts medication errors, displays alerts and even prevents delivery of medication if the infused dosages exceed hospital-defined ranges.

Computerized prescriber order entry (CPOE) allows clinicians to directly enter a medical order from a computer or mobile device. CPOE systems allocate access to patient records and offers clinical support with drug administration - in terms of what drugs are safe to administer based on a patient's records. Software like CPOE eliminates medical error which is often caused by sloppy, illegible handwriting and transcription errors all while improving precision, thoroughness, and continuity of care. CPOE also helps clinicians avoid ADEs by alerting them about improper doses, allergies, existing conditions, drug-to-drug interactions and other key factors in the occurrence of an adverse drug event.

Due to recent recalls and device alerts, concerns over errors in pump malfunctions are increasing. Roger Strachota of BMX Medical says, "The most common problem with infusion pumps is with preventive maintenance which counters calibration of the pump. Preventative maintenance is necessary to make sure the pump has an accurate flow and infusion rate as determined by the manufacturer." This concern is thus pushing manufacturers to design improved pumps with new safety features to meet high demand. For instance, Smith-Medical's CADD ambulatory infusion pump has gained recognition for not only being easy to read, having occlusion sensors (designed to alert clinicians and patients if interruptions of fluid delivery occurs) containing an "air-in-line" detection system, but also for having an event memory of over 1000 events.

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