On February 4th, we kicked off our three-part webinar series with the theme “Unlocking Clinical Impact Through Bedside Data”. During this session, Mathias Van Driessche, Clinical Application Specialist and alarm coach, and Maud Bomert, Clinical Informatician at Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Dordrecht in The Netherlands, shared valuable insights on how medical device data can improve patient care.
The core message from both the theoretical and practical perspectives? How can we reduce alarm fatigue while increasing efficiency and patient safety? In this article, we highlight key insights from the session and how they can contribute to improved hospital workflows.
The challenge of alarm fatigue
Alarm fatigue is a major issue in hospitals. Nurses and physicians are bombarded daily with alerts from medical devices, many of which are not clinically relevant. In fact, up to 90% of alarms do not require immediate intervention, yet they contribute to stress, reduced concentration, and compromised patient safety.
Real-time alarm data can help address this issue. The Medical Device Data Gateway (MDDG) collects, analyzes, and filters alarms, ensuring that only the most relevant notifications reach healthcare staff. This not only reduces unnecessary noise but also leads to faster and more efficient response times.
However, reducing alarm fatigue is not just about technology. It requires a thoughtful approach and collaboration within hospitals. By optimizing alarm parameters and filtering out non-essential notifications, hospitals can create a better working environment for staff while simultaneously improving patient care.
How Albert Schweitzer Hospital took control of alarm overload
While Mathias Van Driessche provided a theoretical framework for alarm management, Maud Bomert brought real-world experience from Albert Schweitzer Hospital. Her department faced the challenge of managing excessive alarms while maintaining high-quality patient care.
Maud and her team discovered that many devices were not well-integrated, leading to an overwhelming number of alarms. Medical equipment often only communicated with a single application, forcing hospitals to choose between sending data to the EHR or to the alarm provider. This resulted in duplicate alerts, unnecessary interruptions, and a cluttered working environment.
By implementing a Medical Device Data Gateway, the hospital was able to centralize and structure all alarms, ensuring that caregivers received only the necessary alerts.
This led to a key insight: structured data is the key to better care. By analyzing alarms and reducing irrelevant notifications, nurses could better allocate their time and patients were exposed to fewer unnecessary alarm sounds. This not only created a quieter hospital environment but also significantly improved staff satisfaction.
We see that nurses feel much more empowered. With fewer unnecessary alarms distracting them, they can work more efficiently and focus on patient care. Additionally, they experience a calmer work environment, which improves both job satisfaction and patient safety.
Maud Bomert, Clinical Informatician, Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Dordrecht
Why you shouldn’t miss our next webinars
This first session provided in-depth insights into how smarter alarm management can positively impact healthcare. But this is just the beginning! In the upcoming webinars, we will explore medical device integration and the future of healthcare technology.
- March 27th: Medical Device Integration for Smarter Workflows – Learn how seamless device connectivity can improve efficiency and streamline healthcare processes.
- May 13th: A Roadmap for Healthcare Integration – Discover best practices for optimizing system interoperability and enhancing patient care.