“R3 Report” Details New NPSG for Clinical Alarms

The Joint Commission recently released a report explaining its new National Patient Safety Goal aimed at helping clinicians improve the management of equipment with clinical alarm systems in hospitals. The R3 Report provides healthcare workers with insight as to exactly how the new alarm NPSG was developed and how it promotes patient safety.

The types of devices being targeted for improvement in this effort include: cardiac monitors, IV machines, ventilators and other equipment with visual and/or auditory components. The new patient safety goal does not address nurse call systems, computerized provider order entry system alarms or other health IT systems.

The first phase of the alarm NPSG will go into effect on January 1, 2014 and will focus primarily on raising awareness of the potential risks associated with clinical alarms. Phase 2, which will introduce requirements for mitigating risks, will not go into effect until January 1, 2016.

To download The Joint Commission’s R3 Report, click here.