I.v. therapy: selection, use and management of infusion pumps

A locally agreed, coordinated policy is essential for the selection and purchase of infusion pumps, and should form part of overall policy for medical device management. When developing a purchasing policy the core needs of all relevant professional groups should be addressed, to ensure that an informed, integrated strategy evolves. This will enhance the wider responsibilities associated with, for example, device training and education, and medical device maintenance, as well as the basic clinical requirements of the infusion pump. The Medical Devices Agency provides guidance on the selection and purchasing of infusion pumps through its medical device evaluation programme, which uses evidence-based systems that categorize devices by clinical infusion risk.