This is a test

2. WHAT IS ALARM FATIGUE
● Sensory overload in nurses caused by frequency and noise of clinical alarms
● Causes desensitization and
lack of situational awareness
● May result in dangerous
situations such as missing
important alarms
Average of
of clinical alarms are false

3. ALARM FATIGUE PROBLEMS
● Clinical staff like nurses are highly affected
○ Nuisance and false alarms cause decrease in professionalism and caregiving ability
○ Hazardous to work conditions, has resulted in patient death
● Patients may have negative healthcare experiences
○ Slow response time to alerts
○ Noisy environment not conducive to proper healing environment
● Joint Commission (JCAHO)
○ Recognized the problem in 2013
○ Set regulations for proper alarm management (2014)

4. OUTCOMES OF PROPER ALARM MANAGEMENT
● Nurses and providers
○ Decreased staff stress
○ Improved communication
○ Improved situational awareness
● Patients
○ Increased safety
○ Improved healing environment
○ Shortened and more effective hospital stays
○ Reduced cost to patients

5. ALARM MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS
● Interprofessional alarm management team
○ Meet regularly to discuss evidence and how to implement changes
○ Regularly monitor and analyze communication strategies
○ Customize and optimize alarm performance
○ Minimize alarm ineffectiveness
● Evidence-based research practice
○ Analysis determines alert needs and solutions

6. ALARM MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS
● Safety and security protocols
○ Establishing and enforcing interprofessional
communication security
○ Meet HIPAA regulations to keep patients and
providers safe
○ Keep IT engaged with systems and operations
● Nurse education
○ Proper training on use of clinical communication
system will result in more effective caregiving

7. TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS AND CUSTOMIZATION
● Alarm funneling
○ Ensure messages only go to staff that needs them
● Customizing alerts
○ Base on patient type, need, department, providers
● Regular evaluation of devices and software
○ Check for updates and stay apprised on innovation

8. TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS AND CUSTOMIZATION
● Staff devices
○ Wearables, smartphones, tablets, computers
○ Utilize both personalized and unified
communication strategies
● Conduct research from computer algorithms and
clinical response to alert management techniques
○ Use research to continually improve alert and
notification systems

9. ACTION PLAN
● Survey staff
○ Gain information about alarm nuisance, communication preferences and
workflow needs
● Develop list of needs for communication software
● Figure out method of satisfying those needs
● Unite clinical staff behind one set system
● Establish alarm management task force
○ Will monitor communication and make sure it works properly
● Ensure HIPAA compliance in alarms and messaging

10. BARRIERS/OBSTRUCTIONS TO SUCCESS
● No “quick fix” to communication problems
○ Requires time, dedication and attention to details of clinical staff needs
● Lack of staff participation
○ Require use of unified system, educate on benefits and encourage
interprofessional collaboration
● Finances
○ Create budgeting timeline

11. NEXT STEPS
● Research investing in new communication system
● Save money by determining if current system can be
modified to fit needs
● Organize and fund staff training in communication
techniques