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Accrediting Group Warns About Alarm Fatigue

Technorati code: EN43MSVQ3RNG  The issue of medical errors resulting from alarm fatigue has been prominent for some time, and a major hospital accrediting group has just added its voice to concerns over this phenomenon. The Joint Commission, an independent organization that accredits hospitals, has issued an alert to hospitals in which it raises the significance of the safety risks associated with alarm fatigue.

Alarm fatigue occurs when nurses and hospital personnel become desensitized to alarms and monitors beeping at regular intervals to the point that they fail to respond promptly when an alarm requires genuine attention.

These alarms are connected to devices that monitor the patient’s blood pressure, cardiac rate and other measures. The alarms can beep not only when a significant change requires attention but also when fairly minor changes occur that may not signify an emergency. They also beep when they are not working.

In any hospital ICU, dozens of such devices are connected to patients, and the volume of alarms from these devices is sufficient to desensitize a health worker. This may lead to delays in responding to patients, with possibly catastrophic results for patient safety.

The Joint Commission says that medical errors resulting from alarm fatigue are vastly underreported in hospitals. The organization says that approximately two dozen fatalities occur every year as a result of alarm fatigue, noting that the numbers are probably understated.

The numbers are much lower than those provided by the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA estimates more than 500 fatalities between 2005 and 2010 were possibly linked to alarm fatigue.

The Seattle medical malpractice lawyers at Morrow Kidman Tinker Macey-Cushman, PLLC represent victims of medical negligence by doctors, nurses, technicians and other medical personnel across Washington.

Source: Boston.com

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