Stop the Noise: A Quality Improvement Project to Decrease Electrocardiographic Nuisance Alarms.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: As many as 99% of alarm signals may not need any intervention and can result in patients' deaths. Alarm management is now a Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goal. OBJECTIVES: To reduce the number of nuisance electrocardiographic alarm signals in adult patients on the medical cardiovascular care unit. METHODS: A quality improvement process was used that included eliminating duplicative alarms, customizing alarms, changing electrocardiography electrodes daily, standardizing skin preparation, and using disposable electrocardiography leads. RESULTS: In the cardiovascular care unit, the mean number of electrocardiographic alarm signals per day decreased from 28.5 (baseline) to 3.29, an 88.5% reduction. CONCLUSION: Use of a bundled approach to managing alarm signals decreased the mean number of alarm signals in a cardiovascular care unit.