Taking Alarm Standardization to The Floors with A Telemetry Training System

Abstract

1989). Certainly, this is what hospitals envision when creating clinical simulation centers to help train staff on a variety of procedures and processes. There is tremendous value in these centers, but part of the challenge is outfitting them with the technology that staff use in the care of patients. In addition, getting staff to these centers can be problematic, since they are often not close to inpatient areas. Such simulation labs are valuable in training staff on such items as changing alarm parameters. Managing alarms is a daunting task, given the number of devices and the varied tones and alerts of devices used in a typical clinical setting. Competing alarms present an aural challenge to staff, and erroneous alarms add greatly to noise pollution on the unit. To reduce nuisance alarms and fine-tune alarm parameters and defaults so that true alarms are presented, the clinical engineering department at Boston Medical Center (BMC) took on the standardization of telemetry alarms and portable monitor alarms. As we investigated, reviewed, and discussed alarms, we found that adjusting parameter defaults was essential in managing patients on telemetry devices. With the introduction of standardized defaults and alerts across care areas, the issue of educating staff about the changes presented a challenge. Many of the changes were subtle and did not translate well through emails, posters, or other non-auditory means. And, as mentioned, getting staff to simulation centers presents challenges. This article describes how the clinical engineering and nursing education departments at BMC took on the task of creating a portable, self-contained telemetry system to educate staff about changes in telemetry alarms and portable monitor alarms. The system enabled us to demonstrate current alarms (both visually and audibly), and show staff the changes. This system greatly enhanced the educational experience.