(WSJ) – The alarms keep patients from getting sleep and overwhelm nurses. Now, researchers are making alarms smarter and less annoying.

For hospital patients, the incessant beeping and buzzing of alarms from monitors, pumps and other devices can make sleep almost impossible.

But all that noise isn’t just annoying; it’s also potentially dangerous. For nurses, the barrage of alarms can be overwhelming, making it easier to tune them out—including when they indicate actual patient deterioration.

Hospitals have tried many strategies to combat alarm fatigue over the years, with mixed results. Now researchers are broadening the focus beyond simply reducing the number of alarms, with a larger goal of improving patient safety. (Read More)