Hospira Infusion Pumps Ranked Top Devices in New KLAS Smart Pumps 2012 Report

LAKE FOREST, Ill., April 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Hospira, Inc. (NYSE: HSP), the world's leading provider of injectable drugs and infusion technologies, today announced its Symbiq™ and LifeCare™ PCA infusion pumps have been ranked as the top devices in their categories in the KLAS report, Smart Pumps 2012: Wireless Technology and EMR Integration Report. Hospira was also recognized as the "early leader" in electronic medical record (EMR) integration with infusion pumps. The rankings are based on data from customer surveys of North American hospital and clinic executives, administrators, physicians, nurses, clinicians, and other directors and managers interacting with healthcare equipment and infrastructure solutions. 

"Hospira is proud to be recognized for its advances in smart pump technology, patient safety, medication delivery and caregiver efficiency," said Thomas Moore, president, United States, Hospira. "As the leader in infusion technologies and I.V. clinical integration (I.V.C.I), Hospira focuses on delivering quality technology and services to our customers across our entire smart pump offering."

The Symbiq infusion device, considered the leader in its market segment, scored the highest overall performance rating (81.7)[1] for large volume pumps (LVPs). LifeCare PCA, also deemed a leading pump, scored the highest overall performance rating for patient-controlled analgesia pumps (PCAs) with a score of 81.1.

The Symbiq infusion system is a technologically advanced infusion device with clinician-friendly features designed to help improve workflow and decrease medication errors. With Hospira MedNet™ safety software built into the device, Symbiq was the first general infusion system developed to provide additional medication-error protection by requiring users to select a drug library entry from the safety software for all drug delivery programs. Due to its highly sophisticated technology, Symbiq is one of the first devices to achieve I.V.C.I. of infusion pumps with EMRs.

To learn how WellSpan Health is using I.V.C.I. with full auto-programming technology to advance its focus on providing exceptional care, view this video: I.V. Clinical Integration: WellSpan Health.

The Symbiq infusion device was the only smart pump with a significant score increase in the past year, as all measured areas saw increased satisfaction. The KLAS smart pump 2012 report praised Symbiq for newer, more advanced technology. Symbiq infusion pumps have the highest-reported safety software drug library compliance among LVPs, at 93 percent.

In March, an enhanced version of the Symbiq infusion device received regulatory clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), representing the first clearance for a general infusion pump to be granted based on the new draft FDA regulatory guidance for 510(k) infusion pump submissions.

To learn more about the Symbiq 510(k) clearance, view this video: Symbiq Video Blog.

Additionally, KLAS highlighted Hospira as the early leader in smart pump EMR integration, also known as I.V.C.I., as it currently has more live I.V.C.I. sites than any other infusion pump provider and is the only vendor to integrate with multiple EMR providers, including Cerner and Epic.

Hospira's LifeCare PCA, also ranked the top infusion pump in its class, has been the highest-rated PCA for two years in a row. According to the KLAS findings, providers liked its wireless functionality and barcode scanning capability. Evaluators described the pumps as easy-to-use, reliable and stable.

First introduced in 1984, Hospira's PCA was the first pump of its kind, revolutionizing pain management. During the past 25 years, PCA technology has improved the safety and quality of care for patients around the world. Today, more than 55,000 units are in use, and Hospira's PCA device has evolved into an essential pain management tool for healthcare professionals.

KLAS is a research firm specializing in monitoring and reporting on the performance of healthcare vendors. KLAS' mission is to improve delivery by independently measuring vendor performance for the benefit of our healthcare provider partners, consultants, investors, and vendors. Working together with executives from more than 4,500 hospitals and more than 2,500 clinics, KLAS delivers timely reports, trends, and statistics that provide a solid overview of vendor performance in the industry. KLAS measures performance of software, professional services, medical equipment, and infrastructure vendors.

For more information, see the complete KLAS report.

About Hospira
Hospira, Inc. is the world's leading provider of injectable drugs and infusion technologies. Through its broad, integrated portfolio, Hospira is uniquely positioned to Advance Wellness™ by improving patient and caregiver safety while reducing healthcare costs. The company is headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., and has approximately 15,000 employees. Learn more at www.hospira.com.

[1] "Smart Pumps 2012: Wireless Technology and EMR Integration," April, 2012. © 2012 KLAS Enterprises, LLC. All rights reserved. www.KLASresearch.com

SOURCE Hospira, Inc.