Comments about the Hospira GemStar Infusion System | Which Medical Device
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Comments
Comment by Jeremy_Hyams Commented Jun 18, 2013
Impact factor: 112
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I’ve been using the Hospira Gemstar Infusion System for a couple of years as an epidural pump, although there is a similar version which can be used for TPN administration.
Although the pump itself appears on the manufacturer’s website to be fairly compact & lightweight, this doesn’t take into account the large, bulky, plastic container that encloses both the pump & infusion bag. The point at which the “patient bolus button” wire is attached has no mechanism to lock the wire to the pump, so it frequently becomes detached (without any form of warning alarm to let you know it’s detached), leaving the patient pressing their bolus button with no effect. Due to the design of this container, there are several nooks & crannies that are impossible to clean properly, and over time these containers become something of an infection hazard. Just looking through the cupboard containing our infusion systems, many of the containers have rusty hinges and show signs of damage from day-to-day usage.
With regards to the pump itself, it’s fairly easy to navigate the menus & set up a program, but it can be frustratingly slow to move from one screen to the next. There are several levels of access code built into it to ensure that the pump cannot be altered by patients – the first access code is so that patients cannot alter their own program, and there are other access codes to set maximum infusion limits to try & avoid practitioners accidentally overdosing their patients. The pump takes 2 AA batteries, and comes with an even bulkier docking station (weighing in at about 1.5kg) which allows it to be powered by mains electricity (though not recharge the batteries).
If I were to ask for any improvements to be made to this system, it would be to provide a decent, integrated container to house the pump & infusion bag with a more resistant connector to the “patient bolus button” wire. However, with regards to the software, ease of programming and safety restrictions, there’s not much improvement to be made.