Improving Telemetry use in the Acute Assessment Unit

Despite published guidelines, telemetry use is inappropriate in 25-43% of cases. This impacts patient safety and telemetry effectiveness. QI methodology was used to review telemetry in a hospital acute medical unit with the aim of reducing inappropriate use and addressing alarm fatigue.

A 'Telemetry Indication Form' was created. Eight weeks of baseline data was collated before introducing the 'Indication Form'. Four plan-do-study-act cycles were conducted. At each cycle, data was analysed using statistical process control charts.

Inappropriate telemetry use significantly reduced from 32% to 4%. Total telemetry use also fell. Unfortunately, interventions to address alarm rates did not result in significant reduction in false alarms.

A 'Telemetry Indication Form' has significant potential to improve patient safety through reducing inappropriate use.