Smart practice: the introduction of a dose error reduction system

This article describes a dose error reduction system (DERS), a relatively recent IV infusion delivery innovation that prevents infusion administration error, and the reasons why it was developed. It has been used in the United States for around 10 years and is now increasingly being used in the UK because of the recognized safety impact. However, it is important to understand why medication safety, and in particular IV medication safety, must be one of the main priorities for clinicians and how and why a DERS can impact positively on infusion practice.