User Manual

ALARMS
PatientNet Operator’s Manual, v1.04, 10001001-00X, Draft 107
All information contained herein is subject to the rights and restrictions on the title page.
Acknowledging Alarms
When an alarm is triggered, you can temporarily silence the tone associated with the
alarm while you analyze the rhythm and notify the appropriate personnel of the
patient’s condition. The Silence button on the Main screen silences alarms for a dura-
tion preset by the system administrator. This duration may be 30, 45, 60 seconds, or
3 minutes. During this period, a silence indicator (crossed-out bell) appears in the
patient block. If a new alarm occurs during the silence period, the audio for the new
alarm breaks through to assure clinical notification of all alarm events. At the end of
the silencing period, if an alarm that was silenced is still active, the audio alarm is
again sounded.
Note: The recommended method to silence alarms is to silence the audio alarm by
selecting the Silence button ONCE. This allows for clinical notification of
new alarm events. Informed use of the Silence button is critical to safe and
effective alarm management.
Selecting the Silence button on the Main screen twice within 5 seconds, then immedi-
ately selecting the alarm text in the patient information block, turns off all alarms for 3
minutes. The Alarm OFF text flashes in the patient information block, then, after 3
minutes, the alarms automatically turn on.
CAUTION: Selecting the Silence button TWICE, and the alarm text in the patient informa-
tion block, renders the Alarms OFF for 3 minutes. This is not
safe clinical
practice depending on the acuity, and the monitoring needs, of the patient.
This is mentioned here to prevent inadvertent cancellation of alarms.
Medical, Level 1
Most urgent alarm (flashing red, loud alternating tone).
1. Press the Silence button on the Main screen once.
2. Press the View button and select the alarming patient to observe the patient’s
real-time rhythm in available leads.
3. Notify the appropriate staff according to hospital policy and procedure.
4. If the alarm is configured for paging, analyze the rhythm and select Page or
No Page as appropriate.
5. If the alarming rhythm continues, go to Step 6. If it returns to normal, click on
the alarm text in the patient information block to acknowledge and clear the
alarm.
6. Press the Silence button twice and then press the alarm text in the patient
block. This turns off all alarms for 3 minutes.
ALARM OFF flashes yellow for 3 minutes, then a learn takes place and the alarms
automatically turn on.
If hospital policy allows, when a code is in progress and all needed staff are present in
the room, all alarms can be turned off. Do this with the Alarms button in the Patient
Setup screen.