It’s interesting to note that the average hospital will either own or rent the equipment that they need. At any one time, this amounts to 35,000 SKUs. Infusion pumps, which includes smart pumps, are just one of the medical devices that hospitals may own or rent to meet the needs of their patients.

Infusion Pump Usage in American Hospitals

When patients are admitted to hospitals, most of these individuals will require an infusion pump. The Materiel Services Department at the University of Michigan Health Systems reported that this applies to 86% of all patients admitted to hospital beds. In 2013, for example, an American Society of Health-System Pharmacists report indicated that 72.9% of hospitals in the United States were using smart pumps for infusion. This is more than were used during 2007, when only 44% of American hospitals were using a smart pump.

The Importance of Infusion Pumps for Intravenous Therapy

When someone requires any type of fluids or medications, intravenous therapy is considered to be the most efficient way to deliver these into the body. This is because intravenous therapy yields a bioavailability absorption of 100%. Saline, for example, is the most common type of intravenous fluid delivered into a patient’s body.

How Intravenous Fluids Are Delivered

In order to regulate the amount and rate at which intravenous fluids are delivered, there are two methods. The first method is manually, while the second is through the use of an electric pump. There are different situations where one method will be used rather than the other.

The Different Types of Infusion Pumps

Since the late 1960s, infusion pumps have been used in hospitals and other types of medical facilities. Currently, there are different classes of infusion pumps being used. The two basic ones are large-volume pumps and small-volume pumps. While the former provide nutrient solutions to feed patients, the latter infuse hormones or medicines.

Learn More About Medical Equipment Rental

If your medical facility would like to rent or lease additional smart pumps or other types of medical equipment, you can learn more by contacting a supplier. It’s important to note that you can purchase these for your facility as well. Given the frequency with which these systems are needed, you want to be sure that you have enough available to address the needs of your patients.