Patient monitoring alarm escalation system and method

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a patient monitoring alarm escalation system and method. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention include an alarm detection device configured to measure physiological data received via a patient monitor, the alarm detection device configured to initiate an alarm in response to predefined measurements of the physiological data, and an alarm device configured to emit a first signal with a first property and a second signal with a second property, the first signal being emitted when the alarm is initiated, the second signal being emitted if an alarm acknowledgement mechanism is not activated prior to a designated event.

1 . A monitoring system, comprising: 
 a monitor having a plurality of speakers and being configured to initiate a primary alarm through one of the plurality of speakers in response to predefined measurements of physiological data and, a secondary alarm through another of the plurality of speakers.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising an alarm acknowledgement mechanism.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , comprising an alarm device configured to emit the primary alarm at a first frequency and the secondary alarm at a second frequency when an alarm condition is recognized, the second frequency increasing if the alarm acknowledgement mechanism is not activated prior to a designated event.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , comprising an alarm device configured to increase a magnitude of the secondary alarm if the alarm acknowledgement mechanism is not activated prior to a designated event.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , comprising an alarm device configured to increase magnitudes of the primary and secondary alarms if the alarm acknowledgement mechanism is not activated prior to a designated event.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , comprising a timer configured to count down a designated amount of time, wherein completion of the count down is the designated event.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a sensor configured to gather actual physiological data from a patient.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of speakers is a component of a pager.  
     
     
         9 . A patient monitor, comprising: 
 an alarm detection device configured to measure physiological data received via a patient monitor, the alarm detection device configured to initiate an alarm in response to predefined measurements of the physiological data; and    an alarm device configured to emit a first signal with a first property and a second signal with a second property, the first signal being emitted when the alarm is initiated, the second signal being emitted if an alarm acknowledgement mechanism is not activated prior to a designated event.    
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second signals are different audible tones and the first and second properties are different frequencies.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the alarm device includes a pager.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first and second signals includes a vibration.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first property or the second property is manipulated if the alarm acknowledgement mechanism is not activated within a define amount of time.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the alarm device includes a plurality of speakers.  
     
     
         15 . A method for facilitating clinical vigilance, comprising: 
 receiving physiological data from a patient;    measuring the physiological data and initiating an alarm in response to predefined measurements of the physiological data; and    emanating a first signal with a first property and a second signal with a second property when the alarm is initiated.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising changing the second property if an alarm acknowledgement mechanism is not activated prior to a designated event.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising emanating the first and second signals from a speaker as different audible tones.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising emanating the first signal from a first speaker and emanating the second signal from a second speaker.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising emanating the first and second signals from a pager as different vibrations.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second properties are different frequencies.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second properties are different volumes.  
     
     
         22 . A monitor configured to receive physiological data from a patient, the monitor comprising: 
 an alarm detection device configured to measure the physiological data and initiate an alarm in response to predefined measurements of the physiological data; and    at least two speakers.    
     
     
         23 . The monitor of  claim 22 , wherein the at least two speakers are configured to emanate an escalating audible signal after initiation of the alarm.  
     
     
         24 . The monitor of  claim 22 , wherein a first speaker is configured to emit a tone when an alarm condition is first detected and a second speaker is configured to remain silent for a designated amount of time after the alarm condition is detected.  
     
     
         25 . The monitor of  claim 22 , wherein a first speaker is configured to emit a first audible sound and a second speaker is configured to emanate a second audible sound different from the first audible sound  
     
     
         26 . The monitor of  claim 22 , wherein a first speaker is configured to emit and maintain a first audible sound while an alarm condition is present and unacknowledged, and wherein a second speaker is configured to emanate a second audible sound that escalates over time while the alarm condition is present and unacknowledged.