Summarizing the evidence on health-system impacts of smart pump interoperability: A scoping review

Smart pump interoperability integrates infusion pumps with a healthcare facility's electronic health record to reduce the risk of intravenous medication errors. The purpose of this scoping review was to summarize and characterize the literature regarding health-system impacts from implementation of smart pump interoperability and identify gaps in research.

A literature search was designed in collaboration with a medical librarian. Articles that studied impacts from implementation of smart pump interoperability in the acute care setting were identified. The following databases were searched from inception to 2025: MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Scopus, and TRIP (Turning Research Into Practice). The first 200 results from Google Scholar and bibliographies from included articles were screened. A structured search for gray literature was performed in Google. Data relating to the research question was extracted from each included article using a standardized data charting tool. Extracted data was analyzed descriptively to characterize the literature. Using predefined eligibility criteria, 1,452 titles and abstracts were screened, and 82 articles were selected for full-text review. Thirteen articles were included in this review.

Varying study designs and methods have been used to examine health-system impacts resulting from the implementation of smart pump interoperability. Outcomes relating to patient safety, organizational finances, workflow and staff perception, documentation, and infusion data have been studied. Implementation is complex. Challenges to implementation and corresponding solutions have been detailed in the literature. Long-term studies with large sample sizes would strengthen the evidence regarding health-system impacts from smart pump interoperability.