Confluence in technologic advances in medical electronics, the availability of new intravenous pharmaceuticals, increasing sophistication of home care delivery systems and the economic motivations imposed by Diagnosis-Related Groups and capitated care payment mechanisms stimulated dramatic developments in intravenous delivery technologies, both for the hospital and the outpatient environment. Success in the use of these sophisticated drug delivery systems, however, depends on appropriate patient selection, optimal selection of a delivery alternative and careful patient monitoring for both desired therapeutic response, health delivery quality and patient safety.