PATIENT MEDICATION DELIVERY SYSTEMS

To foster the clinical and technical expertise of the pharmacy workforce in the use of medication delivery systems; further,

To advocate for key decision-making roles for the pharmacy workforce in the selection, implementation, maintenance, and monitoring of medication delivery systems; further,

To urge hospitals and health systems to directly involve departments of pharmacy and interprofessional stakeholders in performing appropriate risk assessments before new medication delivery systems are implemented or existing systems are upgraded; further,

To advocate that medication delivery systems employ patient safety-enhancing capabilities and be interoperable with health information systems; further,

To encourage continuous innovation and improvement in medication delivery system technologies; further,

To foster development of tools and resources to assist the pharmacy workforce in designing and monitoring the use of medication delivery system.

Rationale

Technological advances in medication delivery systems and administration devices frequently enable improved control of medication administration. Smart infusion pumps are becoming the standard of care for delivering intravenous fluids and medications because they allow for a greater level of control, accuracy, and precision with drug delivery. They are designed to provide users with clinical decision support for programmed doses and infusion rates in order to identify errors before medications or fluids are infused. Smart pump technology and data systems can help improve safety practices by recording and offering reports regarding pump-related errors, alerts, compliance to the institution's drug library, and overrides. ASHP advocates that to enhance patient safety, medication delivery systems interface with information systems, allow interoperability with the electronic health record, and employ dose error reduction software, including but not limited to standardized medication drug libraries with dosing limits, clinical advisories, and other patient safety-enhancing capabilities.

The design, maintenance, monitoring, and continuous quality improvement of medication delivery systems is an interdisciplinary process that requires ongoing collaboration among many disciplines. The pharmacy workforce has an integral role in ensuring the safe and effective management of medication delivery systems, including advising the interprofessional care team on their use. Pharmacists are a resource for education, therapy selection, monitoring, and troubleshooting of smart pump and other drug delivery systems to help improve patient safety and reduce medication errors. In efforts to optimize drug use, pharmacists should participate in organizational and clinical decisions with regard to these systems and devices.