Even a casual observer can’t avoid noticing how many beeping machines are part of the modern hospital or residential nursing facility. In addition to monitoring patients’ vital signs, medication schedule and fall detection, facility-wide alarm systems protect against things like fire, theft, HVAC malfunction, egress, and infant abduction. A recent Joint Commission alert to hospitals calling attention to the problem of noise fatigue warned that “desensitized” hospital workers sometimes ignore these warnings and delay urgent treatment, endangering lives. They estimate that alarm fatigue is directly responsible for at least two dozen deaths a year on average, but also point out that this estimate is likely too low because ignoring or misinterpreting an alarm may set off a chain of events that leads to an injury or death.
The problem of alarm fatigue in these nursing environments is complicated by the lack of standardization in what the various noises mean, the threat level of the problem and what it relates to. “With the proliferation of technology, alarms, and a lack of standardization,” it’s more challenging for doctors and nurses to respond adequately, said Dr. Ana McKee, the commission’s executive vice president and chief medical officer.
At Accutech, we are keenly aware of the role our RFID security, access control and two-way communication products play in hospital and nursing care environments and take comprehensive measures to ensure that our products do not inadvertently add to this growing problem. Our RFID security systems employ technology and design that minimizes the risk of interference from electronic devices and has a proven record of alarm integrity – boasting the lowest rate of false alarms in the industry. To combat a lack of standardization, our software enhanced access control solutions deliver maximum capabilities coupled with easy-to-use functionality by streamlining security systems into a single platform with a customizable software interface that allows multiple alarm delivery and clearing methods. All of our systems are designed specifically to be integrated with nurse call, electronic access control (EAC), closed-circuit television (CCTV), fall detection and other existing security mechanisms within your facility.
The technology in modern hospitals and residential nursing facilities places tremendous demands on the staff entrusted with their patients’ care. All Accutech products are designed and built with this in mind and aim to assist in elevating patient care by minimizing unnecessary interference and distraction and offering features that allow our systems to be easily customized for each environment. There are many reasons why facilities choose to install and depend on Accutech products: lower total cost of ownership, advanced features, lower rate of false alarms, full compliance, the most comprehensive customer support program in the industry (including free 24-hour technical support and a full one-year warranty), and a dealer network that ensures local service. The Accutech advantage can help to ensure that your staff spends more time caring for patients and less time managing systems.