Infusion Pump Remote Programming With Short-Code Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing Barcode Medication Administration (BCMA) workflow for infusion pumps is time-consuming and requires multiple scans at different locations, leading to inefficiencies and increased risk of medication errors due to the need for a barcode scanner and user interface at the bedside, which has low acceptance among nurses and complicates the workflow.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for remote programming of infusion pumps using a patient data management system that assigns a unique, human-readable short confirmation code to each infusion order, allowing verification directly at the infusion pump without the need for bedside scanning, and optionally includes automatic verification of patient-pump assignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If barcode scanning verification is implemented at the bedside for infusion therapy, then medication errors are prevented, but the workflow becomes time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs verification actions in advance by generating and displaying verification codes at the infusion pump before the nurse arrives at the bedside. The pump pre-loads the infusion order details and creates a verification code that can be quickly checked against the medication label, eliminating the need for time-consuming barcode scanning and real-time EMR system verification at the bedside.
Solution Approach 2:
The verification function is extracted from the EMR system and relocated to the infusion pump. The pump independently performs the verification of infusion orders against medication labels using its own display and input interfaces, removing the dependency on bedside barcode scanners and EMR system user interfaces, thereby simplifying the workflow while maintaining verification reliability.
2Measurement precision
If multiple scanning devices and user interfaces are deployed at the bedside, then verification accuracy is improved, but device complexity and implementation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the verification functionality into the infusion pump itself. The pump combines the verification code generation, display, and validation functions in a single device that the nurse already uses for infusion administration. This eliminates the need for separate barcode scanners, EMR system interfaces, and multiple verification devices at the bedside, reducing complexity while maintaining verification accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The infusion pump is made multi-functional by enabling it to perform both infusion delivery and verification of infusion orders. The pump uses its existing display and input interfaces for dual purposes: showing infusion parameters and displaying verification codes for nurse confirmation. This universal approach eliminates the need for dedicated verification devices and reduces the overall complexity of bedside equipment.
3Reliability
If barcode scanning and EMR system verification are performed at the bedside, then medication order accuracy is ensured, but nurse acceptance and workflow simplicity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The infusion pump provides self-service verification capabilities by automatically generating and displaying verification codes that the nurse can independently check against the medication label. The pump autonomously manages the verification process without requiring the nurse to interact with external EMR systems or operate complex scanning equipment, making the workflow simpler and more intuitive while maintaining medication order accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the nurse scan barcodes and query the EMR system to verify the infusion order, the system inverts the approach by having the infusion pump present the verification information to the nurse. The pump displays the expected medication details and verification code, and the nurse simply confirms by comparing with the physical medication label, reversing the traditional verification flow and significantly simplifying the nurse's task.
Data Source
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AI summary
Main claim: A method for the automatic remote programming of infusion pumps (IP) using infusion orders (IO) provided in/by a patient data management system (EMR) of a medical facility (ME), wherein the medical facility (ME) • has a number of beds, each of which can be occupied by a patient, • has a number of infusion pumps (IP), wherein • the patient data management system (EMR) temporarily stores infusion orders (IO) in an infusion order backlog (IOB), • the respective infusion pump (IP) communicates with the infusion order backlog (IOB) via a number of electronic interfaces (SS 1, SS 2, SS3, SS 4) and retrieves or receives temporarily stored infusion orders (IO), wherein • a human-readable short confirmation code (SVC) is directly assigned to the respective infusion order (IO) as a unique identifier and is included with transmissions.• a medication container (MC) is assigned to the respective infusion order (IO), which is equipped with or connected to an information carrier containing the assigned short confirmation code (SVC), • the respective infusion pump (IP) has a receptacle (10) or a connection for one of the medication containers (MC), • the respective infusion pump (IP) is assigned an input means, in particular an input field (60) attached to the infusion pump (IP), for entering the associated short confirmation code (SVC) which can be removed from the information carrier of the medication container (MC), wherein, finally, in a verification step, a short confirmation code (SVC) entered at the input means is compared with the short confirmation code (SVC) which is directly assigned to the infusion order (IO) received by the infusion pump (IP),and wherein, only if the short confirmation codes (SVC) match, the infusion order (IO) is transmitted to the infusion pump (IP) and executed by it, or can be executed on request.