The proliferation of alarms in modern healthcare facilities, while essential for patient safety, also poses some significant inconveniences for medical staff and patients.
It is all based on the fact that medical technology has advanced by leaps and bounds, providing hospitals with sophisticated monitoring and warning systems that allow early detection of complications.
In hospitals, for example, hundreds of auditory signals are recorded daily, but only a small proportion require immediate action. In fact, recent research has explored solutions that could make a significant difference in the management of these alarms, benefiting both healthcare staff and patients.
The main challenges of alarms in healthcare centers
On any given day in a healthcare facility, the sheer number of alarms that ring poses considerable challenges for healthcare staff and patients. We mention some of them below.
Alarm Fatigue
It is perhaps the most critical problem associated with the proliferation of alarms.
This phenomenon occurs when healthcare personnel are overwhelmed by the frequency and volume of alarms, which can lead to desensitization to them.
In an environment where every minute counts, alarm fatigue can result in ignoring truly critical alerts, increasing the risk of adverse events for patients.
Noise and stress
The constant noise of alarms can create a stressful work environment.
Several studies have shown that elevated noise levels in hospitals are associated with increased stress among healthcare workers.
This stress can negatively affect the concentration and performance of medical staff, compromising the quality of care. In addition, patients are also affected, as noise can interfere with their rest and recovery.
“Several studies have shown that elevated noise levels in hospitals are associated with increased stress among healthcare workers.“
Interference and distractions
Constant alarms can cause continuous distractions for healthcare professionals.
These interruptions can interfere with the execution of complex and critical tasks, increasing the likelihood of medical errors. In an environment where precision is vital, any distraction can have serious consequences.
Alarm management and prioritization
Not all alarms are the same; some indicate minor problems, while others signal emergency situations. The ability to manage and prioritize these alarms effectively is a considerable challenge.
Alarm systems must be able to differentiate between alerts of varying severity and provide the information in a clear and concise manner so that medical staff can make informed decisions quickly.
Systems maintenance and configuration
Alarm systems require regular maintenance and proper configuration to function properly.
Improper configuration can result in unnecessary alarms or missing important alerts. Additionally, improper maintenance can lead to system failures, putting patient safety at risk.
Staff training
Healthcare personnel need to be adequately trained to interpret and respond to alarms effectively. This training must be continuous, since technology and alarm systems are constantly evolving.
Lack of training can result in poor alarm management and inadequate responses to critical situations.
Psychological impact on patients
The constant sound of alarms can have a negative psychological impact on patients, causing anxiety and stress.
A noisy care environment can hinder the rest needed for recovery, negatively affecting the patient’s well-being.
Coping with sensory overload
The constant sounding of alarms can cause desensitization due to sensory overload, leading to many alarms being ignored.
The importance of clinical alarms to healthcare has led to the implementation of global standards to ensure consistency between manufacturers, resulting in alarms that sound similar in terms of timbre, frequency and tone.
Researchers in the study published in the journal ‘Perioperative Care and Operating Room Management’ experimented with different musical sounds to improve hospital alarms.
Two of the study’s authors, Joseph Schlesinger, an anesthesiologist at Vanderbilt University in the US, and Michael Schutz, a musical cognition researcher at McMaster University in Canada, have been investigating since 2015 how musical timbres could make sounds. softer ones attract the attention of medical personnel.
The findings revealed that musical chimes can substantially reduce perceived annoyance without impairing the usefulness of the alarm.
“Studies suggest that incorporating musical chimes into hospital alarms could be an effective strategy to improve their design and functionality.“
A key management in the hospital environment
Alarm management in healthcare facilities, as we see, is a complex challenge that requires a combination of advanced technology in alarms and alarm repeaters, clear protocols, and well-trained and supported staff.
Hospitals should continue to develop strategies to mitigate the negative effects of alarms, including implementing smart alarm systems, reducing unnecessary noise, and continuing staff training.
Only in this way can we ensure that alarms remain a valuable tool for patient safety and not a source of extra risk.