Pfizer’s Hospira launches first patient-controlled pain pump integrated into EMR
Despite all the innovation in med tech on so many fronts, it’s often a slow process to see those efforts incorporated into patient care in a way that could improve their treatment and aid healthcare providers. Now, Hospira is debuting a device that seems a no-brainer in terms of making routine hospital care more efficient–and potentially safer.
The company, which was acquired by Pfizer ($PFE) last fall for about $16 billion, is launching the first patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) infusion pump that’s integrated into electronic medical records. The device, known as Life Care PCA 7.0 Infusion System, allows for auto programing of the pump and streamlines documentation of infusion data – which could help improve the efficiency and safety of pain management.
EMR Integrated Pain Pump
The company said this is also the first PCA pump to integrate bar code identification of drug vials, both prefilled and pharmacy-filled. That’s expected to help reduce medication errors, which are estimated to harm 1.5 million people in the U.S. and cost $21 billion annually. The idea is to ensure that the correct drug is administered at the right dose and concentration.
“Because the Life Care PCA 7.0 system allows integration to the order in the EMR, it will help us minimize risk associated with a nurse or clinician manually programming an infusion pump,” said Tina Suess, the manager of medication safety integration at Lancaster General Health, a Pennsylvania hospital that’s adopted the pain pump.
Added Dr. Michael Ripchinski, chief quality and medical information officer at Lancaster: “It also enables improvement in the safety of administering high-risk narcotics. Improvements in the safety and efficacy of pain management have become a critical issue for institutions across the country. Integrating the Life Care PCA 7.0 to the EMR increases transparency for clinicians, especially when changing patients from intravenous to oral medications.”
http://www.fiercemedicaldevices.com/story/pfizers-hospira-launches-first-patient-controlled-pain-pump-integrated-emr/2016-05-19