General-purpose infusion pumps.

In this Guide, we provide a variety of information intended to help healthcare facilities make informed infusion pump purchasing decisions. Specifically, we present an overview of general-purpose infusion pump technology and then guide facilities through the process of defining their needs and identifying the pump capabilities and features that will help them meet those needs. We also describe the factors to consider when performing a cost analysis to help the facility determine which unit will be the most cost-effective choice. Finally, we include a comprehensive listing of infusion pump suppliers and their products, covering 70 infusion pump models sold throughout the world. After clarifying their needs, facilities can review this listing to identify models that are worthy of further consideration. For more detailed information on choosing the most appropriate model, readers can refer to our Evaluation of general-purpose infusion pumps in this issue. In that article, we test and rate 17 pump models from 6 suppliers.