Boston Medical Center combats alarm fatigue

An analysis at Boston Medical Center (BMC) had found that its cardiac care unit experienced 12,000 alarms a day, on average. But, according to a story on National Public Radio, the center was able to successfully combat alarm fatique by switching off lower-risk alarms and upgrading some warnings, for instance a pause in heart rhythm, to a higher level that signifies a crisis.

"Once that happened, many, many, many alarms disappeared. And instead of 90,000 alarms a week, we dropped to 10,000 alarms a week," said BMC nurse Deborah Whalen, according to the story.

Read and listen to the story below.