AI Cuts ICU Alarm Fatigue by 58%, CalmWave Trial Shows

Written by Isabel Cameron

CalmWave, an AI-powered hospital operations platform, achieved a 58% reduction in non-actionable alarms in intensive care units during a successful proof-of-concept with Wellstar Health System.

These alarms, which account for 80-99% of alerts in intensive care units (ICUs), do not require immediate clinical response and contribute to alarm fatigue—a condition that overwhelms healthcare staff with constant, unnecessary noise.

Alarm fatigue has been linked to increased burnout, cognitive overload, and diminished patient safety, as highlighted by a 2023 NIH study.

CalmWave’s platform tackled this issue by analyzing retrospective ICU data, including bedside monitor signals, medications, and alarm records, to optimize alarm limits for both individual patients and the entire unit.

The CalmWave Operations Platform uses explainable AI, providing insights into how its models generate conclusions and recommendations.

According to the tech company, this transparency “empowers” healthcare organizations to optimize operations and make data-driven decisions.

By tuning alarm settings through AI-driven insights, the system offers recommendations that drastically reduce non-actionable alerts while maintaining patient safety.

“Wellstar’s commitment to innovation and its forward-thinking approach to positive change make it the perfect partner to solve the entrenched problem of alarm fatigue. Wellstar understands the power of big data and the criticality of world-class healthcare technology,” said Ophir Ronen, founder and CEO of CalmWave.

“The problem of alarm fatigue is foundational, endemic to every hospital around the world, and we are thrilled to be working with Wellstar to change this unacceptable status quo. Through our successful pilot program, we have demonstrated that CalmWave has the potential to be the first effective alarm fatigue solution.”

Wellstar plans to implement CalmWave’s platform in a larger ICU pilot to test these recommendations in real-time.

Backing this effort, Catalyst by Wellstar, an innovation and venture arm of one of Georgia’s largest health systems, has made a strategic investment in CalmWave.

“We are focused on advancing healthcare technology that enhances both patient and team member experiences while prioritizing quality and safety,” added Dr. Hank Capps, EVP and chief information and digital officer for Wellstar Health System, and president of Catalyst by Wellstar.

“We’re excited for our growing collaboration with CalmWave, which is harnessing the power of AI to address critical challenges like alarm fatigue and improve patient care outcomes in a meaningful way.”

Catalyst by Wellstar has also made a strategic investment in the company, underscoring the potential to improve patient safety and monitoring efficiency.