FDA Taking Steps to Reduce "Alarm Fatigue" in Hospitals

The Boston Globe reported, "The Food and Drug Administration is taking steps to reduce 'alarm fatigue' in hospitals by intensifying its pre-market review of medical devices that sound alarms and could contribute to the desensitization of nurses." The FDA "is providing additional training on alarm standards and alarm safety to its reviewers, who are responsible for scrutinizing 4,000 applications a year from manufacturers seeking permission to sell their medical devices, including heart and oxygen monitors." The Globe adds, "Dr. William Maisel, deputy director and chief scientist at the Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said reviewers are poring over new applications 'with increased awareness' about whether alarms provide information important to patient care and measure what a company claims they measure."

From the American Association for Justice news release.