A nurse interacting with a smart software system in a hospital environment, with an emphasis on alarm reduction and patient safety.

Alarm Fatigue in Hospitals: Can Smart Software Really Make a Difference?

Mira Elwood in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"New research explores how smart software is helping hospitals reduce alarm fatigue and improve patient care."

Hospitals can be noisy places, and much of that noise comes from medical devices designed to alert healthcare providers to potential problems. But with so many alarms going off, it's easy for healthcare workers to become desensitized, a phenomenon known as alarm fatigue. This can lead to critical alarms being missed, potentially endangering patient safety.

Alarm fatigue is a serious issue. In intensive care units (ICUs), where multiple monitors constantly track vital signs, the problem is particularly acute. The constant barrage of alerts can be overwhelming, making it difficult for nurses and doctors to focus on the most important information. This can lead to delays in treatment and, in some cases, adverse outcomes.

Fortunately, new technologies are emerging to address this challenge. One promising approach involves using smart software to customize alarms, filtering out irrelevant alerts and highlighting those that require immediate attention. This article delves into recent research on alarm fatigue and explores how this technology is helping to improve patient care.

How Smart Software is Changing Alarm Management in Hospitals

A nurse interacting with a smart software system in a hospital environment, with an emphasis on alarm reduction and patient safety.

The study, published in PLOS ONE, focused on testing a new type of software called IntelliVue® Alarm Advisor. This software is designed to help nurses customize the alarms on patient monitors, filtering out non-essential alerts and highlighting critical changes in a patient's condition. The software provides visual alerts on the monitor when repeated alarms for the same violation are triggered and silenced within a certain timeframe. The system does not automatically change any alarm settings on its own but offers nurses the opportunity to do so.

Researchers conducted the study in a 56-bed medical intensive care unit (ICU). They collected data on alarm rates, patient characteristics, and nurses' experiences with alarms before and after the software was implemented. The study found that the implementation of IntelliVue® Alarm Advisor was associated with a significant reduction in the number and duration of certain types of alarms.

Heart Rate Alarms: The number of medium priority heart rate alarms decreased by 9.3%.
Respiratory Rate Alarms: Respiratory rate alarms were reduced by 11.8%.
Arterial Pressure Alarms: A reduction of 15.9% was observed in arterial pressure alarms.
Improved Nurse Experience: Nurses reported less time spent responding to non-actionable alarms, and fewer situations where critical alarms were missed.

The results of this research are promising, suggesting that smart software can play a significant role in reducing alarm fatigue and improving patient safety. By filtering out irrelevant alerts and highlighting critical information, this technology helps healthcare providers stay focused on what matters most: providing the best possible care for their patients. Further research is needed to explore the impact of this software in other ICU settings and with different patient populations.

The Future of Alarm Management

This research offers valuable insights into the potential of smart software to reduce alarm fatigue and enhance patient safety in hospitals. As technology continues to advance, we can expect to see even more sophisticated solutions emerge. These may include more advanced algorithms that can predict patient deterioration, as well as systems that can integrate data from multiple sources to provide a more comprehensive view of a patient's condition. By embracing these innovations, healthcare providers can create a safer, more efficient, and patient-centered environment.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205901, Alternate LINK

Title: Testing Physiologic Monitor Alarm Customization Software To Reduce Alarm Rates And Improve Nurses’ Experience Of Alarms In A Medical Intensive Care Unit

Subject: Multidisciplinary

Journal: PLOS ONE

Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)

Authors: Halley Ruppel, Laura De Vaux, Dawn Cooper, Steffen Kunz, Bernd Duller, Marjorie Funk

Published: 2018-10-18

Everything You Need To Know

What is alarm fatigue, and why is it a problem in hospitals, especially in intensive care units?

Alarm fatigue is the desensitization of healthcare workers to the constant sounds of medical device alarms, leading to missed critical alerts and endangering patient safety. In intensive care units (ICUs), multiple monitors track vital signs, creating an overwhelming barrage of alerts that can make it difficult for nurses and doctors to focus on the most important information, potentially causing delays in treatment and adverse outcomes. The sheer volume of alarms can lead to a state of cognitive overload, where healthcare providers are less likely to respond appropriately to each individual alarm.

How does the IntelliVue® Alarm Advisor software work to reduce alarm fatigue in hospitals?

IntelliVue® Alarm Advisor is designed to help nurses customize alarms on patient monitors. It filters out non-essential alerts and highlights critical changes in a patient's condition. The software provides visual alerts when repeated alarms for the same violation are triggered and silenced within a certain timeframe. It does not automatically change alarm settings but offers nurses the opportunity to do so. This customization helps reduce the number of irrelevant alarms, allowing healthcare providers to focus on those that require immediate attention.

What were the key findings of the study that tested the IntelliVue® Alarm Advisor software in a medical intensive care unit (ICU)?

The study, conducted in a 56-bed medical ICU, found that implementing IntelliVue® Alarm Advisor was associated with a significant reduction in the number and duration of certain types of alarms. Specifically, medium priority heart rate alarms decreased by 9.3%, respiratory rate alarms were reduced by 11.8%, and arterial pressure alarms saw a reduction of 15.9%. Additionally, nurses reported spending less time responding to non-actionable alarms and experienced fewer situations where critical alarms were missed, suggesting an improved nurse experience.

Besides the IntelliVue® Alarm Advisor, what other advanced technologies could play a role in the future of alarm management in hospitals?

In addition to software like IntelliVue® Alarm Advisor, future solutions may include more advanced algorithms that can predict patient deterioration. These algorithms could analyze trends in vital signs and other data to identify patients at high risk of adverse events, allowing for proactive intervention. Furthermore, systems that integrate data from multiple sources to provide a more comprehensive view of a patient's condition could enhance alarm management. These technologies aim to provide a more accurate and timely assessment of patient needs.

What are the broader implications of reducing alarm fatigue in hospitals for patient care and healthcare providers?

Reducing alarm fatigue has significant implications for patient care and healthcare providers. By minimizing the number of irrelevant alarms, smart software can help healthcare providers stay focused on critical information, leading to faster response times and potentially preventing adverse outcomes. This can improve patient safety and the overall quality of care. For healthcare providers, reduced alarm fatigue can lead to less stress, improved job satisfaction, and a more efficient work environment, ultimately fostering a safer and more patient-centered environment.