Physiologic Monitoring Issues

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations recently reported that clinical alarm response issues are among the top so-called “never” events. This is the case despite the fact that the Joint Commission explained years earlier the need to develop a National Patient Safety Goal for physiologic monitors and alarm systems. The Commission found that the advantages of advanced patient monitoring systems are often outweighed by various safety issues. 

These safety issues often stem from the false sense of security afforded by constant monitoring and automatic alarm systems. In some cases, physiologic monitoring systems have even led to increases in medical errors and worse patient outcomes.

One study conducted by the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority found that among patients who died while connected to physiologic monitoring systems, more than 88 percent died due to human error. 

If you suffered injuries or unnecessary medical complications due to physiologic monitoring issues in an Illinois healthcare facility, you could be entitled to compensation through a medical malpractice action. Contact the knowledgeable attorneys of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. to learn more in a free consultation. 

How Can Physiological Monitoring Devices Improve Patient Care?

Advances in physiological monitoring devices have made it easier for physicians, nurses, and other healthcare workers to track vital statistics and changes in their patients’ conditions. Modern physiologic monitoring systems can measure and record key metrics such as heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation levels.

According to research published in the journal Technical Physics, monitoring is considered necessary any time a delay in diagnostic information could lead to a “considerable loss” in the availability of vital data or the efficacy of patient care. Monitoring plays an essential role in detecting critical incidents (CI) and allowing healthcare providers to react in time to prevent CI from progressing to irreversible or fatal complications.

Even though monitoring devices are passive systems that cannot replace medical expertise, they can significantly improve patient outcomes when used correctly. One study revealed that doctors identified just four percent of undesirable medication events compared with 45 percent detected by physiologic monitoring systems. 

Monitoring systems also enhance the safety and quality of medical care operations by enabling clinicians to:

• Proactively detect and respond to negative health trends to avoid CI

• Predict and record abnormal or harmful medical events

• Receive instantaneous reports on developing harmful events

• Diagnose and differentiate between various types of complications

• Monitor real-time feedback during care to evaluate treatment efficacy

• Document extensive data that can be used to develop healthcare solutions

Common Problems Associated with Physiologic Monitoring

Mechanical and electronic monitoring systems are not reliable substitutes for the individual attention and trained evaluation of medical professionals. Monitors cannot respond to critical incidents. The accuracy of their output is only as dependable as the technicians who calibrate and interpret them. 

Some of the most common issues associated with physiologic monitoring systems include:

• Alarm fatigue – Many physiologic monitoring systems are equipped with audible alarms that sound when registered values exceed or fall below certain thresholds. These alarms are intended to add an extra layer of protection against critical incidents by alerting caregivers to significant changes in a patient’s condition. Unfortunately, false alarms are incredibly common in medical facilities, and most providers are responsible for multiple patients at any given time. This can lead to such a constant drone of alarm sounds that caregivers eventually become desensitized to them. Over time, critical alarms may be ignored, and patient outcomes can worsen as a result.

• Inadequate policies and procedures – In response to issues like alarm fatigue, many medical facilities are required to develop their own policies and procedures to improve patient outcomes. Unfortunately, these solutions are sometimes focused more on cost-saving measures or limiting institutional liability than on what is truly best for patients. When medical staff is constrained by poor policies and procedures enacted by negligent employers, their patients are the ones who ultimately suffer.

• Communication breakdowns – Even minor communication mistakes can have devastating implications in a patient’s care. Simply entering an incorrect name or value in a monitoring device could lead to errors in a patient’s recorded medical history, treatment strategy, or medication administration. Healthcare providers are most susceptible to communication breakdown during transition points in a patient’s care, such as shift changes and inter-hospital or intra-hospital transfers.

• Lack of training – Monitoring systems must be calibrated and interpreted appropriately to be clinically useful, so proper training for medical staff is essential. Doctors, nurses, and technicians should all understand the meaning of the information displayed on monitoring devices. When healthcare professionals ignore or misunderstand system operating instructions, preventable errors can lead to unnecessary complications.

• Equipment failures – If one or more pieces of equipment fail in a patient monitoring system, even the most careful and well-trained medical staff can miss critical medical events. In some cases, equipment failures can prevent caregivers from attending to immediate patient issues while they adjust or recalibrate devices.

• Product recalls – If a medical facility fails to respond to a product recall issued for a physiologic monitoring device, patients can suffer significant injury as a result. 

How Our Medical Malpractice Attorneys Can Help You

In a medical malpractice claim, patients are responsible for proving that a healthcare provider or facility was responsible for their injuries. Due to the specialized nature of medical care, this can be incredibly difficult without the assistance of a seasoned medical malpractice attorney. 

The Illinois medical malpractice lawyers of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., can support your legal claim by:

• Reviewing your medical records for evidence of malpractice related to physiologic monitoring errors or equipment failure

• Consulting with independent medical experts for second opinions and valuable professional testimony

• Interviewing medical staff and other witnesses who can describe the monitoring and treatment you received

• Communicating with medical staff, facility administrators, insurance providers, and other attorneys on your behalf

• Calculating a reasonable settlement value that accounts for any past, current, or future expenses related to your malpractice injuries

• Negotiating aggressively for the money you deserve and taking your case all the way to trial, if necessary

If you were injured due to physiologic monitoring issues in an Illinois medical facility, contact the experienced Chicago medical malpractice attorneys at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. We will be ready to discuss your situation during a free, no-obligation consultation.