high flow third banner

Actionable insights and practical guidance

Changes that make a significant difference.

Fight alarm fatigue–step by step

Best practices in alarm management are hard to define, as alarm settings that work effectively in one clinical department and one typical patient population are not appropriate for others.

This has been a challenge for Chief Nursing Officers, department leaders and quality managers. There is a clear need to lead change for better alarm management, but with no clear, evidence-based best practice, it is not easy to know how to begin tackling the problem.

While strategies need to be adjusted for the unique conditions of each hospital or unit, there are simple steps you can take based on those who are leading the way.

It is clear that successful interventions should be led proactively rather than deferred to organic solutions that evolve at the point of care.1

a man laying in a hospital bed getting monitor pads on his chest

Tip 1

Maintain effective protocols for ECG electrodes2


Why: Weak electrode contact and maintenance routines contribute to false alarms.

How: Develop and maintain an electrode management routine, including regular checking of electrodes, lead wires and cables. Ensure full understanding of proper skin prep and electrode placement.

Result: Implementation of consistent, best practice-based protocols can reduce artifacts, lowering the incidence of false alarms.

Customize delay and threshold settings on SpO2 monitors thumbnail

Tip 2

Customize delay and threshold settings on SpO2 monitors3


Why: Clinicians can optimize SpO2 monitor performance by customizing settings to reliably alarm when action is required.

How: Multidisciplinary alarm management teams can study alarm report data to determine which alarms are non-actionable and identify changes in settings.

Result: A change as small as decreasing a SpO2 lower limit by 1 percent can substantially reduce non-actionable alarms. The same is true when using delays in alarm signals, to allow for auto-correction.

Tip 3

Customize alarm parameters and levels on monitors2


Why: By setting alarm limits and levels to meet the specific needs of each patient, non-actionable alarms can be reduced.

How: Based on the unit’s patient population (pediatric, pulmonary, etc.), identify appropriate default alarm settings. Develop a policy—and create a process, supported by staff education—that empowers nurses to further customize alarm settings as indicated, based on the specific needs of each patient.

Result: Establishing an appropriate unit default setting and adjusting it for each patient saves time and supports more accurate alarm performance.

Customize alarm parameters and levels on monitors youtube video thumbnail

See how Philips Alarm Advisor alerts a clinician when it appears that a patient’s warning system may be set with thresholds that are too sensitive.

Educate staff thumbnail one
Educate staff thumbnail two

Tip 4

Educate staff2


Why: Educating nurses can reduce false alarms and boost operational efficacy. It also supports consistency in response timing and actions.

How: Undertake staff education before, during and after implementing new protocols and processes. Communicate why changes are being made and how these changes will benefit them and their patients. Ensure staff is competent in recognizing alarm signals and troubleshooting.

Result:
An educated, trained and competent staff is a staff that can better distinguish between actionable and non-actionable alarms, can resolve problems more swiftly and perform more efficiently.

high flow second banner

Tip 5

Educate patients2


Why: Patients and families can be a resource by providing valuable insights and perspectives on efforts to reduce alarm fatigue.

 

How: Educate patients and their families on the monitoring and alarm systems being used—and the part they can play in supporting patient safety. Encourage them to inform staff when any alarm is not being responded to appropriately.

 

Result: Bringing patients and families into the loop empowers them to support staff efforts and protocols around alarm management.

high flow first banner

Subscribe

Subscribe to learn easy ways to create a better environment

 

Sign up for exclusive articles, case studies and expert insight.

*

Contact information

* This field is mandatory

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

By specifying your reason for contact we will be able to provide you with a better service.

We work with partners and distributors who may contact you about this Philips product on our behalf.

*
*

Spoločnosť Philips si cení a rešpektuje súkromie svojich zákazníkov. Svoje povolenia môžete kedykoľvek odvolať. Viac informácií nájdete v dokumente Zásady ochrany osobných údajov spoločnosti Philips.

Alarm management 101

Alarm management 101
Find out why alarms are more than just a nuisance.

The price for patients

Find out why you should protect your patients

The price for patients
What drives alarm fatigue

What drives alarm fatigue?

Discover new facts and approaches for making effective change

Footnotes:

 

[1] Philips. “Taking alarm management from concept to reality: a step by step guide”, accessed 2017, https://www.usa.philips.com/b-dam/b2bhc/us/whitepapers/alarm-systems-management/An-action-Plan.pdf

[2] Cosper, P., et al. “Improving Clinical Alarm Management: Guidance and Strategies”, Biomedical Instrumentation & Technology, March/April 2017, pp. 109–115.

You are about to visit a Philips global content page

Continue

You are about to visit a Philips global content page

Continue

Our site can best be viewed with the latest version of Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome or Firefox.

Vstupujete na slovenskú webovú stránku Philips Healthcare.
Please select the checkbox

Webová stránka je určená len pre osoby, ktoré používajú zdravodntícke pomôcky ako profesionáli, vrátane zdravotníckych pracovníkov, osôb konajúcich za poskytovateľov zdravotnej starostlivosti alebo za obchodníkov so zdravotníckymi pomôckami.

Ste osoba, ktorá spĺňa vyššie uvedené kritériá?