General-purpose infusion pumps: evaluating the Hospira Plum A+ with MedNet

This study updates ECRI's previous Evaluations of general-purpose infusion pumps, most notably those published in the October 2002 and October 2003 Health Devices. It features the results of our findings for the new dose error reduction system now included with the Hospira (formerly Abbott) Plum A+ with MedNet, and it includes updated information for the previously evaluated models that also include this safety feature. General-purpose infusion pumps allow the controlled delivery of liquid medications and other solutions to patients through intravenous (i.v.) or epidural routes. Dose error reduction systems, which are now available on several pump models, represent a significant advancement in infusion pump technology. ECRI believes that such systems can help hospitals reduce potentially fatal pump programming errors, and we recommend that hospitals purchasing new general-purpose infusion pumps consider only those models that offer a dose error reduction system.