Preventable medication errors, especially those related to IV smart pumps, impact approximately 500,000 hospitalized patients in the U.S. annually. These errors often occur when the IV pump’s setup is incorrect, leading to inaccurate medication delivery.
The innovation introduced by the nurse-engineer team from the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a new design for intravenous (IV) poles, aimed at improving the safety and efficiency of administering IV medications. Traditionally, IV smart pumps used in hospitals require precise setup to deliver the correct dosage of medication. However, even when the pump signals it’s functioning properly, errors can still occur if the setup isn’t optimal, leading to under or over-medication. These preventable medication errors pose a significant risk to patient safety.
The new IV pole, developed by this interdisciplinary team, addresses this challenge by incorporating a novel adjustable crossbar. This crossbar automatically ensures the correct height differential between the IV pump and the medication container. This height differential is crucial because it directly impacts the accuracy of fluid flow, which is necessary for precise medication delivery. In standard IV poles, nurses often face difficulties when trying to manually adjust the height of the container to maintain this required differential, a task that is time-consuming and prone to errors.
By automating this function, the new pole reduces the need for manual adjustments, allowing nurses to set up IV infusions more quickly and accurately. This design not only improves the efficiency of IV medication delivery but also minimizes the risk of medication errors that could harm patients. The patent for this innovative IV pole is currently under review, and it’s expected to make a significant impact in critical care settings, where patients often require multiple IV drips at the same time.
Article written by Patty Shillington
11/03/2025
Source:
uMass