Assignment Help: Pros(??) & Cons of Alarm Fatigue

Think of it on a different twist...how the recognition of alarm fatigue has improved patient care. Like this article states....Alarm Fatigue Pilot Shows More Technology Isn't Always the Answer

A BMC interdisciplinary task force conducted an extensive literature review before implementing a cost-effective approach during a six-week pilot program on a cardiology unit. They reset parameters on the alarms to “crisis” levels, such as heart rate below 45 bpm or above 130 bpm, and electronic order sets for providers to set parameters for common arrhythmias. All alarms are now actionable.

“It was a big cultural shift,” said James Piepenbrink, director of clinical engineering at BMC and a study co-author, who attributes much of the success to the interdisciplinary clinician team and leadership support. “We proved the system works, and clinically we have had no adverse outcomes.”

The pilot resulted in an 89 percent reduction in the average number of daily audible alarms. The largest drop occurred to changes in monitors for bradycardia, tachycardia and heart rate parameter limits.

Noise levels fell to 72 decibels from 90 decibels pre-pilot. Patient and clinician satisfaction increased. Nurses reported spending more time with patients. No adverse cardiac events related to missed alarms occurred and code blue events decreased by half.

All of these benefits occurred without additional technology or financial resources.

“While some hospitals are looking to add technology to combat this issue, BMC’s approach demonstrates the opportunity for clinicians to interact with current alarm systems more effectively to decrease clinical alarm fatigue while simultaneously capturing and displaying all important alarms,” said Piepenbrink, adding that he is proud not to have added on more technology but that the team addressed the root of the problem.

“We engaged the frontline staff to do this, and we recognize empowering the staff can drive a solution that has made them incredibly happy,” Whalen said. “Our patients are much safer.”

The hospital has since implemented this program and standardized alarms on all of its inpatient medical–surgical units. The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing published the findings, which can serve as a model for other hospitals.

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