Hospira MedNet — networked medication safety at the point of care

The Plum A+ with MedNet transforms the proven Plum A+ hardware into a fully networked smart-pump medication management system. Hospira MedNet safety software adds a facility-customizable Custom Drug Library with hard and soft dosing limits organized by clinical care area — ICU, Med/Surg, Pediatrics, NICU, OR, and others can each have their own tailored library with drug-specific concentration ranges, dose limits, and infusion rate boundaries. Hard limits prevent programming outside of absolute safe ranges entirely; soft limits generate override-able advisory alerts with a documented clinician acknowledgment. The drug library is managed centrally on the MedNet server and pushed wirelessly to the entire pump fleet, ensuring every infuser on the network always has the current approved library without manual bedside updates.

Auto-programming and compliance reporting

MedNet’s auto-programming feature allows physician orders to be sent directly to the infuser from the hospital information system, pre-populating the pump with the prescribed drug, dose, rate, and volume. This reduces manual keypad entry, shortens setup time, and eliminates a significant category of transcription and programming errors. Compliance reporting tracks drug library utilization rates, soft-limit override frequency, hard-limit interceptions, and infusion event data across the entire fleet — giving pharmacy, nursing leadership, and quality teams the data they need to identify practice improvement opportunities, measure the impact of library changes, and demonstrate regulatory compliance. The MedNet Plug ‘n Play module installs directly into the Plum A+ without hardware modification, and the pump communicates with the MedNet server via Ethernet or 802.11 wireless connectivity.

Dual-line infusion through a single patient line

The Plum A+ with MedNet retains the full dual-line hardware capability of the standard Plum A+. Two input lines (Line A and Line B) feed a single output line, allowing clinicians to run primary and secondary (piggyback) infusions or deliver two medications concurrently through a single patient access site — eliminating the need for a second IV site. Concurrent delivery supports a minimum of 0.5 ml/h per line up to a combined maximum of 500 ml/h. Automated secondary line delivery eliminates the need to raise and lower infusion containers. All delivery modes — basic, titration, piggyback, concurrent, dose calculation, bolus, multistep, loading dose, and programmable delayed start — are available and integrated with MedNet’s drug library limits.

PlumSet cassette with built-in free-flow protection and air management

The Plum A+ with MedNet uses Hospira’s PlumSet Macro Cassette — a self-contained pumping unit with integrated inlet and outlet valves, proximal and distal pressure sensing diaphragms, an air trap chamber, and built-in free-flow protection. The closed air management system captures up to 2 ml of accumulated air within the cassette’s air trap. When air is detected, the pump performs an automated back-prime — routing fluid from Line A in reverse through Line B to flush air from the cassette — without disconnecting the patient line. This reduces contamination risk, minimizes therapy interruptions from nuisance air-in-line alarms, and supports safer handling of hazardous drugs by keeping the system closed throughout the process.

Precision flow and 15 dose-calculation units

Flow rates range from 0.1 to 999 ml/h with 0.1 ml/h resolution below 100 ml/h and 1 ml/h resolution above — delivering ±5% accuracy across the 1–999 ml/h range and ±10% at the lowest rates (0.1–0.9 ml/h). The pump supports 15 dose-calculation delivery units including ml/h, mcg/kg/min, mg/hr, units/hr, mEq/hr, and ng/kg/min, covering the full spectrum of clinical dosing from weight-based critical care drips to simple rate-and-volume infusions. Titration allows rate adjustments during an active infusion, and the VTBI range extends from 0.1 to 9,999 ml. User-selectable distal occlusion pressure from 1 to 15 psig (factory default 6 psig) allows clinicians to match occlusion sensitivity to the patient population and clinical scenario.

Battery backup and administration set compatibility

The Plum A+ with MedNet contains an internal rechargeable 6V sealed lead-acid battery that provides approximately 6 hours of operation at 125 ml/h or less on one line, or delivers at least 500 ml at rates above 126 ml/h. The battery charges automatically whenever the pump is connected to AC power, with a recharge time of approximately 6 hours. The system is fully compatible with the LifeCare Plum Series administration sets and LifeShield/CLAVE needleless protection systems. At 9.5 lbs and 8 × 8 × 6 inches in a high-impact plastic casing, the Plum A+ with MedNet accommodates standard pole-mount configurations and is compatible with the Plum A+3 triple-channel tandem carrier for high-acuity multi-channel setups.

FDA device corrections and safety bulletins

Multiple FDA device corrections and safety bulletins have been issued for the Hospira / ICU Medical Plum A+ platform and MedNet software over the product’s lifecycle. The most significant hardware-related corrections include a Class I battery correction (initially issued March 2023, updated May 2024) related to a manufacturing defect in replacement batteries that can cause substantially diminished battery life, and a Class I counterfeit battery alert (October 2024) regarding allegedly counterfeit CSB batteries found in use with Plum infusion systems. When running on battery power without AC backup, affected pumps may stop an ongoing infusion and power down sooner than expected. ICU Medical’s recommended actions include keeping the pump connected to AC power whenever possible, ensuring the battery is fully charged before transport, closely monitoring the battery status indicator when disconnected from AC, having a backup pump available during all infusions, replacing batteries when a replace-battery alarm is triggered, and verifying that all batteries carry an ICU Medical Test Label or CE Mark. A separate Class 2 MedNet software correction has addressed software-related issues. Additional Class 2 device corrections have addressed cassette door and alarm-related issues across various production lots.

Because FDA device corrections and safety communications may be updated or expanded after the date of this listing, IPR Medical recommends that facilities also check the FDA’s official resources directly to ensure they have the most current information:

FDA Medical Device Recalls Database — search by product name or manufacturer for the latest classified recall and correction notices.
FDA Medical Device Safety — safety communications, early alerts, and recall announcements.

If you have questions about whether a specific correction applies to your pump’s serial number or software version, or if you need assistance implementing a correction, contact IPR Medical at 855-477-8866 or cs@iprmed.com.

Important: There is no need to return or discontinue use of Plum A+ pumps due to the battery corrections. Follow the manufacturer’s updated battery instructions and contact IPR Medical if your pump displays a Replace Battery alarm or if you need a verified replacement battery. Do not use batteries that do not have an ICU Medical Test Label or CE Mark on the label. For the most current FDA correction information, visit fda.gov/medical-devices/medical-device-safety.

IPR Medical — sales, repairs, and parts

IPR Medical buys, sells, repairs, and stocks parts for the Hospira Plum A+ with MedNet. Whether you need a recertified pump with MedNet already installed and ready for deployment, replacement batteries, cassette doors, pole clamps, MedNet module support, or a full repair and recertification, IPR Medical’s infusion pump service team has the expertise and inventory to support your fleet. Facilities considering an upgrade from a standard Plum A+ to a MedNet-equipped system should contact IPR Medical for availability and pricing. Annual preventive maintenance is recommended by the manufacturer — contact IPR Medical to schedule service or request a quote.

IPR Medical buys, sells, repairs, and stocks parts for the Hospira Plum A+ with MedNet. Contact us at 855-477-8866 or cs@iprmed.com for pricing, repairs, parts, or technical support.