Ubiquitous alarms trouble patients, burden nurses

Almost every hospital machine now comes with an alarm, and the constant noise has threatened to overwhelm nurses. Meanwhile, patient fear of setting off bed or other alarms can lead to immobility, a critical problem for patients whose recovery depends in part on movement. The Joint Commission warned about the problem in 2013, estimating clinical intervention was not required to resolve 85% to 95% of alarms. The Commission required hospitals to create processes to improve alarm safety, and hospitals took steps to address the problem, with some bringing in consultants to help them assess the sound, purpose, frequency and urgency of alarms. However, no national data exists to show what progress has been made. (Kaiser Health News story, 12/2/19)