Alarm and Noise Management

Alarm fatigue is a growing concern in healthcare. Additional technology often means more alarms, many of which are non-actionable. These nuisance alarms can interrupt workflow and patient care, disrupt patient’s recovery time, and can create alarm fatigue for care providers which can lead to poor alarm practices.
 

The Joint Commission’s National Patient Safety Goal on Alarm Management¹ focuses on improving the safety of clinical alarm systems and outlined key Elements of Performance which accredited institutions are expected to comply. Our consultants provide strategic guidance and hands-on implementation support to reduce non-actionable alarms and unnecessary noise while standardizing alarm management processes.

Key benefits:

• Comprehensive assessment of current practices, including data analysis
• Prioritized recommendations with implementation support
• Reduced nuisance alarms and unnecessary noise which can improve patient satisfaction and potentially impact HCAHPS scores
• Assistance with compliance of The Joint Commission’s National Patient Safety Goal on Alarm Management

Alarm and noise management are complex challenges, interconnecting with many aspects of care delivery. Our programs start with data collection and analysis as it provides valuable insight and is considered the foundation for effective alarm strategy.
 

We then integrate people, processes and practices, technology, and culture as part of an in-depth current-state assessment. Next, a long-term sustainable alarm and noise management strategy are developed which aligns with the organizations' goals.

Quantitative and Qualitative Data Analysis

Data analysts use proven analytic methodologies to provide a baseline review, to be further evaluated and interpreted by our subject matter experts. Our team interacts real-time with clinical staff and meets with leadership to obtain a comprehensive qualitative perspective. This assessment evaluates current:
 

• Processes and patterns, care models, and patient populations
• Technology capabilities and use, default settings, and configurations
• Unit, hospital, and system culture related to patient safety and near miss reporting

Taking it beyond the Assessment

Using our unique co-create methodology, we collaborate with leadership and frontline staff to prioritize opportunities and develop an organization-wide alarm and noise management strategy. This approach supports alignment and endorsement by all levels of an organization. Our consultants support the implementation and provide onsite support during program initiation.
 

Post-implementation evaluation including data analysis will be completed to evaluate the impact of changes.