HP Labs Technical Reports

Intelligent Filtering of Inappropriate Alarms in Patient Monitors

Tombs, Vanessa; Beech, Mike; Coiera, Enrico; Reynolds, Dave

HPL-91-54

Keyword(s):

Abstract: The goal of an intelligent patient monitor is to continuously interpret data acquired from critically ill patients, providing relevant alarms and causal explanations for any abnormalities. Current monitors provide simple threshold alarms that are activated when user-adjustable limits are exceeded. A high proportion of such alarms are not considered to be clinically significant. This paper describes work in progress on intelligent filtering of inappropriate alarms. The major causes of inappropriate alarms are presented together with a description of the experimental platform used to develop a practical realization of the filters.

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