EBME Forums Forums Free discussion Free discussion Plumb A Volumetric Pump

We just finished a 2 week trial on the day unit, going for another 2 weeks on the IV team. Response sofar are very positive, will let you now when the trail is finish.

We have it here in Canada for 2 years now and it is very good. Service menu is quite helfful, it will show you the history.
Cheers from Canada

Just a quick update Guys the Plum A went very well here. We are now trialling Baxter Colleagues and next in line is Alaris Signatures. I think possibly next week. Any feedback on these 2 would be appreciated. Tony.

The signatures are great - we never see them (we have at least 12) from one ppm to the next and I only had to do two repairs (one defective main pcb and one pump head damaged by the staff) on them in the last 5 years. Accuracy is great - we are talking 0.X% errors; the only things that let them down is that the real time clock is poor at accurate time keeping (alaris know about this and there is a service bulletin about it) and that the power / infusing leds are too dim but these are minor niggles on a very good pump.

The colleagues are another story altogether....

A list of some of the problems we have had with Baxter Colleagues from a previous post


We went for the Graseby 500s.

Lee

As usual, the Alaris is the one to go for. Why anyone would seriously consider choosing any of the others mentioned here is beyond me!

Well, it's not actually beyond me. I have seen such purchasing decisions taken on (shall we say) rather frivolous, "non-technical" grounds!

I would,nt consider Price to be a frivolous " non-technical " ground !! We are, as you so often point out in these pages, Spending Tax Payers Money.

Indeed ... but let's spend it wisely, for the long term, and for the clinical good! And, which price is being considered? Total life-time cost ... or just the flat purchase price? Quality always wins out in the end.

When I mentioned "frivolous" I was thinking more of "Oh, I like the colour of that one!" (and I have heard that said, believe me).

Your first paragraph sums it up quite nicely, Geoffrey !!

We had a problem with the unit we were using so got the other units that were available in for trials.

The unit that was chosen was the one that the nurses (they are the people who use them after all) preferred by a very large majority.

Yes the initial purchasing and consumables costs were looked into but so was the costs from maintenance, training and down time.

Lee

PS the Braun units in day-glow green were prettiest but the nurses didn't like them.