Quality Improvement Through Clinical Alarm Management
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Dr. Marcia Hobbs; DNS; RN
Presentation Format
Poster Presentation
Abstract/Description
Clinical alarm monitoring technology is used widely throughout healthcare institutions. They are intended to alert health care providers of potential clinically significant events that require intervention with the patient. Clinical alarm systems are designed for high sensitivity, which can lead to frequent false and nonactionable alarms. The intermittent noise and resulting mechanical hum in the hospital auditory environment leads to staff desensitization, or “alarm fatigue,” and causes the staff to miss, ignore, and even disable the alarm signals. If clinical alarms are not properly managed, they can compromise patient safety. It is important for health care institutions to develop a systematic and coordinated approach to clinical alarm system management. Effective implementation of a clinical alarm safety policy within the institution can shorten the length in hospital stay, improve the health outcomes of patients, and lead to measurable quality improvement in patient care.
Location
Small Ballroom, Curris Center
Start Date
April 2016
End Date
April 2016
Quality Improvement Through Clinical Alarm Management
Small Ballroom, Curris Center
Clinical alarm monitoring technology is used widely throughout healthcare institutions. They are intended to alert health care providers of potential clinically significant events that require intervention with the patient. Clinical alarm systems are designed for high sensitivity, which can lead to frequent false and nonactionable alarms. The intermittent noise and resulting mechanical hum in the hospital auditory environment leads to staff desensitization, or “alarm fatigue,” and causes the staff to miss, ignore, and even disable the alarm signals. If clinical alarms are not properly managed, they can compromise patient safety. It is important for health care institutions to develop a systematic and coordinated approach to clinical alarm system management. Effective implementation of a clinical alarm safety policy within the institution can shorten the length in hospital stay, improve the health outcomes of patients, and lead to measurable quality improvement in patient care.