title: Using failure mode and effects analysis to plan implementation of smart i.v. pump technology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) was used to evaluate a smart i.v. pump as it was implemented into a redesigned medication-use process.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A multidisciplinary team conducted a FMEA to guide the implementation of a smart i.v. pump that was designed to prevent pump programming errors. The smart i.v. pump was equipped with a dose-error reduction system that included a pre-defined drug library in which dosage limits were set for each medication. Monitoring for potential failures and errors occurred for three months postimplementation of FMEA. Specific measures were used to determine the success of the actions that were implemented as a result of the FMEA. The FMEA process at the hospital identified key failure modes in the medication process with the use of the old and new pumps, and actions were taken to avoid errors and adverse events. I.V. pump software and hardware design changes were also recommended. Thirteen of the 18 failure modes reported in practice after pump implementation had been identified by the team. A beneficial outcome of FMEA was the development of a multidisciplinary team that provided the infrastructure for safe technology implementation and effective event investigation after implementation. With the continual updating of i.v. pump software and hardware after implementation, FMEA can be an important starting place for safe technology choice and implementation and can produce site experts to follow technology and process changes over time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FMEA was useful in identifying potential problems in the medication-use process with the implementation of new smart i.v. pumps. Monitoring for system failures and errors after implementation remains necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (UWSMPH), Madison 53792, and Ben Taub General Hospital, Houston, TX, USA. tbw@medicine.wisc.edu
authors.forename: Tosha B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Wetterneck
authors.forename: Kathleen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Skibinski
authors.forename: Tanita L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kleppin
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.forename: Myra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Enloe
authors.forename: Steven S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Rough
authors.forename: Ann Schoofs
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Hundt
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carayon
mesh_terms: D004869:Equipment Safety / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007260:Infusion Pumps / Q000592:standards*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards