Boston Medical Center has reduced audible alarms 89 percent after the conclusion of a six-week "no-tech" pilot program to combat alarm fatigue in a cardiac unit, according to an article published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing.
Using only data on alarm sounds and staff responses, researchers identified alarms sounding most often before true medical emergencies on the cardiovascular unit. These alarms were changed to "crisis," requiring immediate nursing action each time they sounded. Self-resetting sounds from alarms were reduced or eliminated, because researchers found they did not lead to clinically actionable situations.
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Through the parameter change, average weekly audible alarms fell 89 percent, from nearly 88,000 weekly audible alarms to fewer than 10,000 weekly audible alarms, and both patient and staff satisfaction improved. No adverse events were reported, and code blue alerts decreased by 50 percent. Average decibel levels on the ward fell from 90 to 72 decibels during the pilot program.
The program was so well-received that BMC has expanded it to many of its other wards, according to a news release.
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