Implementation of Smart Infusion Pumps: A Scoping Review and Case Study Discussion of the Evidence of the Role of the Pharmacist

Integrating Clinical Pharmacy Services Into Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis Care Teams: A Narrative Review of 4 Models

BACKGROUND: Over the past 30 years, the treatment landscape for multiple sclerosis (MS) has become increasingly complex. All MS disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) and several symptomatic medications are designated specialty medications, and their financial coverage is subject to complicated insurance processes and a wide array of patient support programs. Many patients receiving MS DMTs need ongoing monitoring or enrollment in a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy program. Integrated pharmacy services can facilitate financial, technical, and educational aspects of providing specialty medications. Although pharmacy services are often part of the care team for patients with complex chronic medical conditions, MS clinics may not have the benefit of full pharmacy services. We present 4 models of MS health care delivery and discuss how integrating pharmacy services into an MS multidisciplinary team can potentially increase the efficiency and quality of health care delivery. Clinical pharmacists, working with other providers, can optimize and accelerate access to medications requiring prior authorization, improve patient outcomes by promoting medication adherence and persistence, enhance safety by monitoring laboratory findings and potential drug-drug interactions, and minimize clinical workflow burden by improving process efficiency, which may be cost-effective for the MS health care delivery system.

A review of human factors and infusion pumps: lessons for procurement

Integrating advanced technologies like medical devices in healthcare is crucial for addressing critical challenges, but patient safety must remain the top priority. In modern clinical settings, medical devices, such as infusion devices used to administer fluids and drugs, carry risks from use errors, requiring a focus on usability and human factors engineering (HFE). Despite the significance of integrating HFE into technology selection processes, it is often overlooked. A review of five key articles demonstrates how applying HFE principles in procurement strategies can enhance device usability and patient safety. Although designed to reduce medication errors, infusion devices can still cause over-infusion or delays, indicating the need for improved safety features that must be considered in the context of sociotechnical systems. The reviewed studies suggest incorporating HFE in design, purchasing, and implementation to address these issues. The studies highlight various HFE methodologies, showing a wide variation in design, deployment, interpretation, and reporting. This comprehensive examination underscores the importance of standardised evaluations to ensure safer and more effective medical devices, emphasizing the essential role of HFE in advancing patient safety within healthcare settings.