BOSTON, MA. January 2, 2007-In an ongoing effort to enhance its culture of patient safety, Faulkner Hospital will be converting to a new "smart" infusion pump-the Sigma Spectrum smart pump-this month. Implementation of the pump is an advance in the use of technology for the nursing staff at the Faulkner, and will provide additional safety measures for patients by helping to avert IV medication errors. Several other area hospitals are already using, or plan to convert to one of the many smart pumps currently available.

"Use of the Sigma pump will assure safer IV infusions for patients," said Judy Hayes, RN, MSN, CNO, Vice President of Nursing at Faulkner Hospital. "This change in technology will be an important step in our ongoing effort to create a safer, closed loop drug administration practice and we're very pleased to be able to offer this new level of safe practice to our patients," she said.

In concert with a nation-wide movement to continually improve patient safety, the Faulkner has implemented several other safety-enhancing initiatives including Executive Team Safety Rounds and distributing medical-staff Safe Practices surveys. Most recently, the hospital created a Patient Safety Award, which is presented to staff members who identify and solve potential patient safety issues. Members of the Faulkner Hospital Patient Safety Committee will give an award to one recipient each quarter, but will examine all issues that may be identified.

As the World Health Organization (WHO) continues to promote patient safety at health care institutions, the Faulkner Hospital will continue to implement practices supported by the organization. With the emergence of technologies such as smart infusion pumps, any lapses in patient safety will continue to decrease.