Large Volumetric Infusion Pumps Inventory Management and Usability: Survey

In Canadian hospitals, infusion pumps are critical to the safe and efficient delivery of care to patients. Currently, the users of infusion pumps — whether technicians or nurses — have no formal way of reporting errors with these devices. Any errors with VIPs are reported on a voluntary and informal basis, and the methods of reporting vary from region to region and hospital to hospital. At present, the full impact of the design quality of VIPs on users, with respect to reliability and usability, is not known. Another recognized knowledge gap is related to what brands and specific devices are used across Canada. Currently, more than 70 brands of large VIPs are licenced in Canada, yet the distribution of these devices across the country is not known.