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Infusion Errors: What They Are and How To Fix Them

Infusion Errors: What They Are and How To Fix Them

Numerous procedures go on during a single day at a hospital, and many of these require medication that needs to be administered through an IV. Medical professionals everywhere rely on IVs to deliver medicine and help treat people effectively. However, there are times when accidents occur,—like infusion errors. These errors will need immediate correction to ensure the patient's health remains stable.

Clamped Tubing

IV syringe pumps can have an accidental clamp in the tubing, preventing the medication from being delivered to the patient. If medicine or fluid cannot flow through the tubing, the infusion pump will sound an alarm and notify nearby caregivers that the infusion process has stopped. Keeping the tubing free of any potential blockage or tight bends is a priority when administering medicine. Clearing any obstructions and moving any objects off of the tubing will fix the infusion error and continue the flow.

Battery Failures

Like any battery, batteries in IV pumps have a chance of failure. Battery failure may occur from excessive heat or powerful energy surges, which will cause the infusion pump to power down and stop medication administration. Normally, the pump will alert that the battery will die soon or is low on power, but there are times when the battery dies suddenly. To avoid battery failures, most manufacturers recommend keeping the device plugged in when possible.

Incorrect Input Into the Pump

The IV pump requires the input of the medication's rate, amount, and other details before it begins pumping. All these values must be correct, or the patient may receive too much or too little medicine over time. Occasionally, someone may input an incorrect value into the device, which may cause an infusion error that medical personnel must fix immediately. New smart pump technology has drastically reduced clinical dosing errors at hospitals keeping patients safe. The use of IVs helps many people in the medical field. Knowing how to prevent and fix any errors in a person's IV is important to giving them the best treatment.