Frequency-Selective Silencing Device for Digital Filtering of Audible Medical Alarm Sounds to Enhance ICU Patient Recovery

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph J. Schlesinger ◽  
Elizabeth Reynolds ◽  
Brittany Sweyer ◽  
Alyna Pradhan
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care ◽  
Intensive Care Units ◽  
Patient Perspective ◽  
Digital Filters ◽  
Free Field ◽  
Digital Filtering ◽  
Raspberry Pi ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Frequency Selective ◽  
Alarm Sounds

Free-field auditory medical alarms, although widely present in intensive care units, have created many hazards for both patients and clinicians in this environment. The harsh characteristics of the alarm noise profile combined with the frequency at which they sound throughout the ICU have created discomfort for the patients and contribute to psychological problems, such as PTSD and delirium. This frequency-selective silencing device seeks to attenuate these problems by removing the alarm sounds from the patient perspective. Patients do not need to hear these alarms as the alarms primarily serve to alert clinicians; therefore, this device, using a Raspberry Pi and digital filters, removes the alarm sounds present in the environment while transmitting other sounds to the patient without distortion. This allows for patients to hear everything occurring around them and to communicate effectively without experiencing the negative consequences of audible alarms.

scholarly journals Modeling the COVID-19 epidemic in Okinawa

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Pigolotti ◽  
Davide Chiuchiu ◽  
Paula Villa Martin ◽  
Deepak Bhat
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care ◽  
Intensive Care Units ◽  
Doubling Time ◽  
Large Fraction ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
The Future ◽  
Containment Measures ◽  
Death Count

We analyze current data on the COVID-19 spreading in Okinawa, Japan. We find that the initial spread is characterized by a doubling time of about 5 days. We implement a model to forecast the future spread under different scenarios. The model predicts that, if significant containment measures are not taken, a large fraction of the population will be infected with COVID-19, with the peak of the epidemic expected at the end of May and intensive care units having largely exceeded capacity. We analyzed scenarios implementing strong containment measures, similar to those imposed in Europe. The model predicts that an immediate implementation of strong containment measures (on the 19th of April) will significantly reduce the death count. We assess the negative consequences of these measures being implemented with a delay, or not being sufficiently stringent.

Nurses' beliefs and attitudes toward visiting in adult critical care settings

1993 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 238-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
KT Kirchhoff ◽  
E Pugh ◽  
RM Calame ◽  
N Reynolds
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Intensive Care Units ◽  
Nursing Care ◽  
Reasoned Action ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Critical Care Nurses ◽  
Attitudes And Beliefs ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Beliefs And Attitudes

OBJECTIVE: To assess the beliefs and attitudes of critical care nurses about the effects of visiting on patients, staff and family. DESIGN: Both interviews and questionnaires were used to gather data on nurses' attitudes and beliefs about visiting and open visiting according to the format of Ajzen and Fishbein's Theory of Reasoned Action. SETTING: Five Utah intensive care units and three Ohio intensive care units. SAMPLE: Critical care nurses in Utah (N = 29) and Ohio (N = 41) were interviewed to assess their beliefs about the effects of visiting on patients, families, nurses and nursing care delivery. RESULTS: Nurses believed the consequence of visiting was more positive for the patient from a psychological perspective than from a physiological perspective but that the effects might differ depending on the patient, the visitor and the circumstances. They believed that visiting had negative consequences for families, because they became exhausted, and that visiting was disruptive for nursing care delivery. Their attitudes about effects of visiting on nursing staff were consistently more negative than were attitudes about the effects on the patient and the family. CONCLUSION: To provide an optimal situation for visiting, its negative consequences must be minimized and nurses' attitudes and beliefs about visiting must be assessed and addressed.

scholarly journals Effect of Programmed Family Presence in Coronary Care Units on Patients’ and Families’ Anxiety

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 104-112
Author(s):  
Seyyedeh Halimeh Kamali ◽  
Masoomeh Imanipour ◽  
Hormat Sadat Emamzadeh Ghasemi ◽  
Zahra Razaghi
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care ◽  
Intensive Care Units ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Family Presence ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Family ◽  
Coronary Care ◽  
Experimental Group

Introduction: Hospitalization of patients in the intensive care units always has negative consequences such as anxiety and concern for patients and their families. This study aimed to investigate the effect of programmed family presence in intensive care units on patients’ and families’ anxiety. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study conducted in Iran. The eligible patients and a member of their families were assigned into two groups (N = 80) through convenience sampling. The family members in the experimental group were allowed to attend twice a day for 15 minutes in a planned way beside the patient and contribute to their clinical primary care. In the control group, the family members had a strict limitation to visit their patients based on the usual policy. Anxiety in both groups at the beginning and on the third day of patient’s admission was measured, using Spielberger’s questionnaire. The data were analyzed with SPSS version13. Results: The mean score of anxiety in the control group did not show significant difference in patients and in families, however it had decreased significantly in the experimental group after the intervention for both patients and families. The results showed that mean differences between the two groups was statistically significant in patients and families. Conclusion: The planned presence of the family of patients in coronary care unit (CCU) played a crucial role in reducing the anxiety of patients and their family. Furthermore, it is recommended that strategies of visiting policy in intensive care units (ICUs) should be revised and the possibility be provided for the families’ planned presence and participation in the patient care.

Work artifacts as a reflection of change in Intensive Care Units

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Miller ◽  
Kathleen Burns ◽  
Tonya Beattie ◽  
Chad Wagner
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care ◽  
Intensive Care Units
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