SmartFlow not only calculates maintenance fluid rates, but can also calculate rates for your dehydrated patients and any additives you wish to use.
When adding a Fluid to your flowsheet, the fluid Maintenance rate will automatically be calculated based on the patient's weight. You can also enter the maintenance fluid rate manually if needed.
After confirming the maintenance rate, you can choose to use the quick toggles to add multiples of the maintenance rate, or to calculate a surgery fluid rate of 5 ml/kg/hour.
With SmartFlow, you can easily calculate your fluid deficit. After the clinical observation of the patient, enter the estimated Dehydration (%). Once entered, the Fluid Deficit (ml) will be calculated. You can also bypass the dehydration calculator and enter the fluid deficit amount yourself.
Next, enter the number of hours you wish to restore the hydration over, (with a maximum of 24 hours) in the Restore dehydration over (hour) box. The Hourly Fluid Rate is calculated as the maintenance rate plus your rehydration rate.
Note: When necessary, you can edit the calculated Hourly fluid rate (ml/hour) value. Whatever you type in this box will be displayed on the flowsheet.
Note: SmartFlow will not automatically recalculate the fluid rate based on times you enter in the "Restore Dehydration Over" line. We understand that on-going assessment of the patient and changes to patient care can affect the necessary fluid rate. Changes to the flowsheet should be updated manually as needed.
Along with fluids set up, you can also include an Additive to the treatment. To do this, please add the name of the additive, its concentration, and measure unit:
Enter these values as you would when identifying the additives on a fluid bag. Please note: the amount added to the second box needs to be a number only. The third box is for adding the dosage information, such as ml/l or mcg/500ml etc.
The fluid rate can be changed at any time during the patient's treatment. For example, if the dehydration status has changed for your patient, and you would like to increase or decrease the fluid rate, you can note this on the flowsheet. We recommend you discontinue the current fluid rate as described HERE, so that your flowsheet accurately reflects your patient care.
Alternately, you can leave the fluid line to reflect the maintenance rate only, and enter the actual fluid rate in the cells of the flowsheet.
