What's the news. Customizing alarm limits that allow clinicians to tailor notifications to patients, improving data visualization, and ensuring high-priority alarms do not sound during less serious events are among improvements vendors are developing for patient monitoring systems, says a February 10, 2020, article from Healthcare Business News. Interoperability between patient monitors and the electronic health record (EHR) remains the "holy grail," the author says, noting that interoperability can break down silos and ensure that patient data gets from one place to another.

Why it matters. Alarms contribute to multiple problems in hospitals, including noise that can be disruptive to patients and alarm fatigue that can inhibit provider' timely response. Joint Commission now requires hospitals to use formal processes to tackle alarm safety, but no national data are available on progress in reducing unnecessary or false alarms.

How ECRI Institute can help. Alarm hazards have been one of ECRI Institute's Top 10 Health Technology Hazards every year since the list's inception in 2007. The guidance article Clinical Alarms looks at strategies for reducing risk related to alarms.