Alert on medical alarm safety issued by Joint Commission

The Joint Commission last month issued a "Sentinel Event Alert" urging hospital leaders to take a focused look at the issue of medical device alarm safety and alarm fatigue. Among the recommendations are preparing an inventory of alarm-equipped medical devices in high-risk areas and for high-risk clinical conditions, establishing guidelines for alarm settings on alarm-equipped medical devices used in high-risk areas and for high-risk clinical conditions and inspecting, checking and maintaining alarm-equipped medical devices to provide for accurate and appropriate alarm settings, proper operation and detectability.

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