Obstetric Alarm Fatigue

From Clinfowiki
Jump to: navigation, search

Obstetric Alarm Fatigue[edit]

Introduction[edit]

Alarm fatigue is well reviewed as an unintended consequence of clinical information systems, but is especially noteworthy in obstetrics, particularly in the labor ward. Labor patients are routinely monitored with External Fetal Monitor (EFM) systems, as well as automatic blood pressure cuffs and also oxygen saturation monitors, all of which are designed to alarm audibly and visually both in the labor room and at the nursing station. Unfortunately, the alarms can be triggered by maternal or fetal movement causing loss of signal of parameters that are actually within normal limits when detected or resumed. The Joint Commission estimates that 85-99% of alarms do not require clinical intervention.[1]

Scope of the Problem[edit]

These alarms, depending on how narrow the parameters are set, can go off several hundred times for each patient in a day, and on certain units these signals can be triggered thousands of times a day. Although as of 2015 no alarm frequency study had been located specifically for the obstetric ward, an alarm frequency study from the University of California, San Francisco revealed a total of 2.5 MILLION unique alarms occurring in a 31-day study period of a cardiac unit. There were over 380,000 audible alarms for an average of 187/bed/day. 88.8% of the alarms were false positives. [2] This can result in physicians and nurses becoming desensitized to the sounds or signals, with providers turning down the volume, turning the alarm off, or setting the alert parameters outside of safety. guidelines. [3]. In obstetrics, the audible alarms have even been associated with hearing loss and tinnitus. [4]

Potential Solutions[edit]

For low-risk patients (the vast majority of obstetric admissions), Kathleen Simpson, PhD, RNC, a well known perinatal nurse educator, advocates for not using EFM for laboring patients, while monitoring vital signs every 4 hours in early labor, and gradually increasing the frequency as labor progresses, following the Guidelines for Perinatal Care [5], (p.177) as well as avoiding automatic blood pressures and oxygen saturation monitors except in high risk patients. This could radically reduce the number of potential alarms in the first place. [6] For the maternity wards in New York State and gradually across New England, a unique, simplified early warning system has been advocated by the National Partnership for Maternal Safety: the Maternal Early Warning Criteria (MEWC), as the rate of major morbidity and critical illness is so low. If any single listed parameter is triggered, a prompt bedside assessment is required. The following parameters were specifically chosen to limit false alarms and facilitate implementation: Systolic BP (mm Hg) <90 or >160; Diastolic BP (mm Hg) >100; Heart rate (beats per min) <50 or >120; Respiratory rate (breaths per min) <10 or >30; Oxygen saturation on room air, at sea level, % <95; Oliguria, mL/hr for >2 hours, <35 Maternal agitation, confusion, or unresponsiveness; patient with preeclampsia reporting a non-remitting headache or shortness of breath [7], p.3 Submitted by Mitchell Strauss, MDalerts alert_fatigue