All good stuff, Dominic. Be sure to keep us updated.
I'm not convinced that we're quite ready yet for a
Chaos button on infusion pumps, though.
"Check and Test" used to be one of our (unofficial) mottos in the army too. When we had nothing else to do (and sometimes even when we had) we would check our kit* - again and, er, again (to the point where it would probably appear a bit
anal to an outsider).
Which Asena pump do you have in mind there, I wonder? We need to be clear about the distinction between volumetric infusion pumps and syringe pumps. In general, infusion pumps deliver fluid volumes, whilst syringe pumps deliver drugs.
Certainly some of the newer pumps (of both type) "pull back" a bit on occlusion, but whether they cancel the alarm (upon sensing a return to normal line pressure) ... well, I'm in doubt about that. Hopefully someone on here can clarify that one (otherwise I'll need to run some tests on the next Asenas I come across)!
I like the idea of "predictive battery capacity technology". Now that we have so-called "intelligent" battery packs, the sort of thing you describe should not be outside the realms of possibility, I should have thought.
And, as for copying the nurse. Many pumps have a "lock out" function, so all should be well as long as the nurse shields the key-press sequence involved. If a higher level of security is required in our New Spec ... then we shall need to think about a swipe card, chipped key fob, or some such thing. But then ... what happens when the nurse looses the key?
Lastly:- "umbrella by the front door". What about the endless argument in New Hospital Design about the so-called Doctors' Hand Basin? I have been in hospitals that have this (small) basin positioned (at great expense) near the door in every patient room. Yet some - many - of the "blighters" (yes, I'm being polite today for some reason) still didn't use them to wash their hands between visiting patients! What's the answer there - cameras? (no, due to patient privacy). Please discuss!
*
I'm referring here to the "green kit", of course ... rather than medical equipment (although we certainly checked and tested that enough, as well)!
