This issue of Horizons, a special, one-time magazine, focuses exclusively on improving medical alarm systems which warn of danger by alerting caregivers to critical medical information. The latest in a series of special Horizons publications released by AAMI, it examines how to improve the safety and effectiveness of such systems.

SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS

• American College of Clinical Engineering
• Association of Surgical Technologists
• ECRI Institute
• Healthcare Technology Foundation
• Infusion Nursing
• Institute for Safe Medication Practices
• National Patient Safety Foundation

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HORIZONS: Improving Medical Alarm Systems

Click on each title to view article in PDF format. This symbol indicates a Members Only article. (To purchase the entire edition, order here.)

• Foreword: Signal to Noise - Mary K. Logan, JD, CAE, President AAMI
• Alarms Pose Challenges to Healthcare Facilities

The Big Picture

• Improving Clinical Alarms: Fall Summit Aims to Develop Action Plan
• A Roundtable Discussion...Alarm Safety: A Collaborative Effort - Mary K. Logan, Moderator
• Spotlight on Medical Alarms in Home Healthcare
• An FDA Response on Alarm Systems Issues

Clinical Practice

• Why Clinical Alarms Are a 'Top Ten' Hazard: How You Can Help Reduce the Risk - James Keller, Rich Diefes, Kelly Graham, Mark Meyers, Kathy Pelczarski
• Taking Alarm Standardization to the Floors with a Telemetry Training System - James Piepenbrink

Alarms Research

• Physiologic Monitoring Alarm Load on Medical/Surgical Floors of a Community Hospital - Brian Gross, Deborah Dahl, and Larry Nielsen
• Cardiopulmonary Monitors and Clinically Significant Events in Critically Ill Children - Linda B. Talley et al.
• An Evidence-Based Approach to Reduce Nuisance Alarms and Alarm Fatigue - James Welch

Alarm Standards

• Highlights of the New International Standard: Alarm Systems and Ventilators in Critical Care Debra R. Milamed, Susan E. Dorsch
• Point-Counterpoint: Experts Debate International Standards
  • IEC 62D Medical Monitor Standards Will Make Alarms Worse
    Frank E. Block, Jr.
  • Changes to the Alarm Standard Are Crucial to Ensure Patient Safety - Dieter Woehrle

Alarm System Design

• Complementing Medical Device Alarms with Animated Guidance
  Michael Wiklund, Jonathan Kendler
• Beyond Sound: Using Systems Integration to Advance Alarm Functionality - Dave Dyell
• Functional Basics of Third-Party Alarm Notification Systems
  Bridget A. Moorman, Tim Gee

In My Opinion

• Toward Better Medical Alarm Systems - John Hedley-Whyte