Reporting adverse events is part of the culture at Newton-Wellesley Hospital (NWH). NWH implemented an electronic incident reporting system in 2006. Reporting safety events in an electronic system gives the organization the real-time information it needs to mitigate risks. It also helps the hospital’s risk management staff focus on patient safety improvement strategies that help drive organizational change.

Alarm Fatigue Hazards: The Sirens Are Calling

By James Welch

Nurses often compare their patient care environments to a casino or carnival; a cacophony of sounds and little distinction of where these sirens originate and what they mean. Clinicians cope by turning alarms down or off to create a more tolerable environment for themselves and their patients. Unfortunately, all too often this results in harm to the patient.