Question

Alarms are intended to alert caregivers of potential patient problems. But if alarms are not properly managed, they can compromise patient safety.

• Respond in one strategy per level.
• Develop one alarm management and patient safety strategies for each of the following levels of care:
  • Organizational
  • Unit
  • Individual caregiver

Answer 1

Organizational:
Alarm management:
-Establishing protocols to set patient-specific alarms
Patient safety strategy:
-provide proper skin preparation for the placement of ECG electrodes, it should be highly sensitive and specificity
Unit:
Alarm management:
-alarm fatigue when clinicians do not respond to clinically critical alarms
patient safety strategy:
-Making perfect alarm system parameters and alarm management policy
Individual caregiver:
Alarm management:
-Regulate alarm parameters setting for individual patients in accordance with hospital policy
Patient safety strategy:
-Develop policies and procedures for monitoring individual patients with clinical importance for monitoring