Rob B Way1, Sally A Beer2, Sarah J Wilson3. 1. Emergency Department, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford OX3 9DU, United Kingdom. Electronic address: rob.way@ouh.nhs.uk. 2. Emergency Department, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford OX3 9DU, United Kingdom. 3. Emergency Department, Wexham Park Hospital, Slough, Bucks SL2 4HL, United Kingdom.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency, duration and type of audible monitor alarms in an ED, utilising the standard manufacturer's classification. METHODS: The audible monitor alarms and the timing of any intervention related to the patient monitoring was observed and recorded. RESULTS: 110 Patients admitted to the Majors area or Resuscitation Room were observed for a total of 93 hours. One monitor was observed at a time. Alarm noise was generated 29% of the observation time. Overall, 429 alarms lasting 21 hours 27 minutes were judged to be positive and 143 alarms lasting 5 hours 47 minutes, negative. 74% of Resuscitation Room and 47% of Majors alarms were silenced or paused. Alarm limit parameters were only adjusted after 5% of alarms in Resuscitation Room and 6% of alarms in Majors. CONCLUSIONS: Whilst high level monitoring is desired from a patient safety perspective, it contributes to a significant ambient noise level, which is recognised by all who pass through an ED, and can be detrimental to patients, relatives and staff. We have demonstrated that there is a high probability of near-continuous alarm noise from patient monitoring in a 10-bedded Majors area. We make suggestions for methods of noise reduction and intend to implement some of these within our own ED.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency, duration and type of audible monitor alarms in an ED, utilising the standard manufacturer's classification. METHODS: The audible monitor alarms and the timing of any intervention related to the patient monitoring was observed and recorded. RESULTS: 110 Patients admitted to the Majors area or Resuscitation Room were observed for a total of 93 hours. One monitor was observed at a time. Alarm noise was generated 29% of the observation time. Overall, 429 alarms lasting 21 hours 27 minutes were judged to be positive and 143 alarms lasting 5 hours 47 minutes, negative. 74% of Resuscitation Room and 47% of Majors alarms were silenced or paused. Alarm limit parameters were only adjusted after 5% of alarms in Resuscitation Room and 6% of alarms in Majors. CONCLUSIONS: Whilst high level monitoring is desired from a patient safety perspective, it contributes to a significant ambient noise level, which is recognised by all who pass through an ED, and can be detrimental to patients, relatives and staff. We have demonstrated that there is a high probability of near-continuous alarm noise from patient monitoring in a 10-bedded Majors area. We make suggestions for methods of noise reduction and intend to implement some of these within our own ED.
Authors: Christine Weirich Paine; Veena V Goel; Elizabeth Ely; Christopher D Stave; Shannon Stemler; Miriam Zander; Christopher P Bonafide Journal: J Hosp Med Date: 2015-12-14 Impact factor: 2.960
Authors: Richard L Fidler; Michele M Pelter; Barbara J Drew; Jorge Arroyo Palacios; Yong Bai; Daphne Stannard; J Matt Aldrich; Xiao Hu Journal: PLoS One Date: 2017-11-27 Impact factor: 3.240