Choosing an Infusion Pump for Your Facility

Infusion pumps deliver fluids and medications at controlled rates, and they are used in almost every inpatient area as well as in surgery centers, infusion clinics and some long-term care settings. Buying pumps is rarely about a single device. It usually means choosing a platform that your staff, pharmacy, biomedical team and IT department will live with for years. This guide sets out the main questions.

Types of infusion pumps

• Large-volume (volumetric) pumps deliver IV fluids and many medications through a dedicated administration set. They are the general-purpose pumps on most wards. See our infusion pumps.
• Syringe pumps drive a syringe plunger for small volumes and precise low rates, and are common in anesthesia, critical care and neonatal care. See syringe pumps.
• Modular systems use a central unit with attached pump modules, and sometimes other modules, so one point-of-care unit can run several infusions. The BD Alaris 8015 PC unit with an 8100 LVP module is one such system.
• Ambulatory and specialty pumps, such as PCA, enteral feeding and home infusion devices, are designed for specific uses and are outside the scope of this guide.

Laboratory syringe pumps, used for research and fluid handling, are different devices and are not intended for patient infusion.

Standardize on a platform

Most facilities try to use one pump platform across units. That keeps training simple, reduces programming errors, and means administration sets, spare parts and drug libraries are shared. Before adding pumps, check:

• Which pumps your facility already uses, and whether the new pumps should match.
• Which administration sets the pump needs. Large-volume pumps usually require the manufacturer's dedicated sets, which are a large part of the running cost.
• Whether the pump model and its sets are still supported and in production.

Safety software and drug libraries

Many current pumps support dose error reduction software. This checks programmed infusions against a drug library with limits set by your facility. Baxter, for instance, lists the Spectrum IQ with its Dose IQ safety software.

The drug library is built and maintained by your pharmacy and clinical teams, not by the supplier. If you plan to use safety software, ask:

• Which software version is installed on the pump?
• How is the drug library loaded and updated: by cable, wirelessly or through a server?
• Does the pump need to connect to your network, and what does your IT team need for that?

Features to compare

• Flow rate and volume ranges, especially for neonatal or high-flow uses. Check these in the manufacturer's specifications for the exact model.
• Alarms: occlusion, air-in-line, end of infusion and low battery, and how they are displayed and silenced.
• Battery life and charging, which matter for patient transport.
• Mounting: pole clamps, rail mounts, and how several pumps stack on one pole.
• Cleaning: which disinfectants the manufacturer allows on the housing and screen.

Buying refurbished pumps

Refurbished pumps are often used to expand a fleet that already runs the same model, or to replace units that are out of service. Refurbished equipment can provide a practical alternative for healthcare facilities working within a defined budget. Availability, condition, testing information and included accessories vary by unit and are confirmed during the quotation process. Ask:

• Were flow accuracy and occlusion and air-in-line alarms checked before sale, and is there a record?
• Has the battery been replaced, and how old is it?
• What software version is installed, and can it be updated to match your fleet?
• Is a pole clamp included?
• Are there any outstanding manufacturer notices for the model, and have they been addressed?

Your biomedical team should carry out acceptance checks before pumps go into clinical use. Warranty and manufacturer coverage depend on the equipment, its condition and the manufacturer, and are confirmed in your quotation. See also our refurbished equipment checklist.

Suction pumps are a different purchase

Facilities often buy suction equipment alongside infusion pumps, but these are separate devices. Portable aspirators, intermittent suction units and drainage pumps are listed under suction pumps. Check vacuum range, canister type and whether the unit runs on battery, mains or wall vacuum.

Regulatory and facility requirements

Requirements for infusion devices, drug libraries and network connection differ between countries and facility types. The buyer is responsible for confirming that equipment is suitable for the intended use and that its import, registration, installation and use comply with the requirements of the destination country.

What to include in a quote request

1. Pump type (large-volume, syringe or modular) and the clinical areas it will serve.
2. The pumps you already use, if you want to match them.
3. Whether you need safety software, and any software version requirements.
4. Accessories: pole clamps, power supplies, and a starter quantity of administration sets if you need them.
5. Quantity, new or refurbished, and delivery location.

Send these through our quote request form or browse the medical pumps category. Pricing, configuration, availability and shipping are confirmed in your quotation.