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About the fluid calculator

SmartFlow has a fluid calculator. You can use the fluid calculator to quickly and easily calculate fluid rates for dehydrated patients.

When you add a fluid to a patient's flowsheet, the fluid calculator automatically calculates the patient's maintenance rate. And you can use the calculator to:
  • Calculate the patient's fluid deficit
  • Calculate the patient's hourly fluid rate
  • Record a patient's dehydration
  • Quickly and easily calculate multiples of the patient's maintenance rate
  • Record that you added additives to a fluid
Note: If necessary, you can change the patient's maintenance rate.
The fluid calculator shows buttons that you can use to quickly and easily add multiples to the maintenance rate. For example, you can select Sx rate to quickly and easily calculate a surgery rate. You can select:
  • A multiple of 1.5
  • A multiple of two
  • A multiple of 2.5
  • A multiple of three
  • A multiple of five
Note: If you make a flowsheet template or an anesthetic flowsheet that has a fluid parameter, SmartFlow does not keep the multiple that you selected. If necessary, you must select the applicable multiple again.
Figure 1. Buttons that you can use to add multiples to the maintenance rate
Buttons that you can use to add multiples to the maintenance rate
After you enter a value in the Dehydration box, the calculator calculates the patient's fluid deficit. After you enter a value in the Restore dehydration over (hour) box, the calculator calculates the patient's hourly fluid rate.
Note: If necessary, you can manually enter the patient's fluid deficit and the patient's hourly fluid rate.
If necessary, you can add an additive to the fluid. Use the boxes of the Additive setting to:
  • Select the applicable additive
  • Record the concentration of the additive
  • Record the unit of measurement of the additive
    Figure 2. The boxes of the Additive setting
    The boxes of the Additive setting

If necessary, you can add more than one additive. To add one more additive, select More additives.

Fluid parameter information that you can save in a template

This table shows which information you can save in a template for fluid parameters.

InformationCan a template use the information?
Start at (o'clock)Only for fixed time templates.
Continue every (hours)Yes.
BillingNo. The default value for the parameter controls Billing.
InstructionsYes.
ColorYes.
Maintenance rate (ml/hour)No. Set a value for each patient
Dehydration (%)No. Set a value for each patient
Fluid deficit (ml)No. Set a value for each patient
Restore dehydration over (hour)No. Set a value for each patient
Hourly fluid rate (ml/hour)No. Set a value for each patient
Sx rateNo. Set a value for each patient
AdditiveYou can save one additive. If you add more additives to the fluid, you cannot save them in a template.
Tip: If you want to tell your staff to add other additives, enter Instructions.