Telemetry monitoring can improve health care quality by providing real-time patient information to doctors, nurses, and other medical providers. However, it is not a substitute for human attention. If you’ve suffered harm from telemetry negligence, you may be eligible to recover compensation through a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Telemetry monitoring in health care is an electronic form of continuous cardiac monitoring for patients hospitalized with conditions that could quickly disrupt heart function. It aims to prevent a catastrophic outcome by ensuring patients receive immediate intervention when critical changes occur.
Telemetry monitoring can improve health care quality by providing real-time patient information to doctors, nurses, and other medical providers. However, it is not a substitute for human attention. Its effectiveness hinges on health care providers implementing appropriate protocols, proper communication between departments, and the correct use of telemetry equipment.
How Does Telemetry Monitoring Work?
The telemetry monitor is a portable device connected to the patient through five electrodes strategically placed in the chest and abdominal areas. It monitors critical cardiac vital signs, such as pulse rate, heart rhythm, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and blood oxygen levels. The monitor is connected to a central monitoring station, which receives and displays the information. Monitoring staff can thus view a patient’s vital signs, and an alarm sounds when concerning changes occur.
Every hospital handles telemetry monitoring differently. In some facilities, nurses monitor telemetry stations while caring for other patients. Other hospitals hire telemetry monitoring technicians to provide continuous monitoring. In either case, nurses play a significant role in telemetry monitoring. Their responsibilities include the following:
- Attaching electrodes
- Setting alarm thresholds
- Monitoring telemetry stations and the patient to identify concerning changes
- Promptly notifying physicians of concerning changes
- Communicating with all medical staff to ensure monitoring is uninterrupted
All telemetry monitoring staff must know the patient’s history and reasons for monitoring to ensure they can identify the most important changes and respond properly. Some changes are more critical in particular patients than in others.
The Elements of Effective Telemetry Monitoring
Those who receive telemetry monitoring are generally vulnerable patients with heightened complication risks. They include patients who have recently suffered a stroke or heart attack or those who have dangerous blood clots, lung conditions, dangerous arrhythmias, and fainting spells. They may be unable to tolerate treatment delays should complications arise. Effective telemetry monitoring requires the following elements to prevent adverse outcomes:
- Accurate capture of vital patient data — This requires proper placement of electrodes, accurate machine calibration, appropriate equipment use, and properly trained and informed monitoring staff.
- Continuous, uninterrupted monitoring — Monitoring must not be interrupted except by a physician’s order, including during shift changes and transportation of patients between departments.
- Rapid response to concerning changes — Monitoring staff must immediately detect and respond to concerning changes and effectively communicate these developments to physicians.
Common Issues and Negligence in Telemetry Monitoring
According to the Patient Safety Authority reporting system, most telemetry monitoring failures occur due to user error, equipment malfunctions, alarm issues, and communication breakdowns between medical staff. If the patient is harmed, such errors might amount to medical malpractice.
The following telemetry errors may constitute medical malpractice:
- Battery failures
- Inadequate policies and procedures for monitoring and responding to alarms
- Delays in connecting patients to telemetry monitors
- Transport staff disconnecting patients while moving them between departments
- Failure to reconnect patients to telemetry units upon returning to their rooms
- Lack of staff training
- Understaffing, making technicians and nurses responsible for monitoring too many patients
- Failure to inform monitoring and responding staff about the patient’s history, comorbidities, and needs
- Ignoring alarms due to alarm fatigue
- Inadequate communication between telemetry monitoring technicians and nurses
- Connecting patients to incorrect telemetry units
These errors can create critical treatment delays, causing cardiac arrest and loss of oxygen if heart rhythm changes go undetected and untreated for even a few minutes. Patients may suffer permanent heart damage, brain injury, organ failure, or death. In fact, death is the most common outcome of serious telemetry error, according to the medical journal Patient Safety.
Patient Rights for Telemetry-Related Issues
Physicians, hospitals, and nurses who violate patient rights may be liable for medical malpractice. If one or more of your providers has violated your right to quality care, informed consent, or privacy, contact our experienced medical malpractice attorneys immediately. You may have grounds to file a medical malpractice claim.
The Right to Quality Care
When you select a health care provider, you trust the provider to rely on their training and experience when making treatment decisions. You have a right to expect to receive the level of care a reasonably prudent health care provider with similar qualifications would provide, given the circumstances and available information. This is known as the prevailing professional standard of care.
The standard of care includes reasonable communication between medical staff, appropriate staff training, adequate monitoring, and proper use of telemetry equipment. The law requiring health care providers to exercise a reasonable standard of care applies to hospitals, doctors, nurses, and all other licensed health care providers involved in your care.
Informed Consent
You have a right to receive complete information about any medical treatment’s risks and benefits, including the right to refuse treatment. This principle is known as informed consent. The primary health risks associated with telemetry monitoring stem from inadequate monitoring and delayed treatment responses due to human error.
Telemetry equipment poses additional risks to patients because of the electronic transmission of information through the hospital’s internal network. Cybercriminals could hack telemetry equipment and shut it down or falsify your monitoring results. This conduct also could violate your privacy.
The Right to Privacy
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, protects the privacy of your personal health information. A data breach affecting telemetry equipment can allow your health information to fall into the wrong hands. Cybercriminals could sell your personal information on the dark web, causing serious financial losses. Hospitals and medical staff have a legal duty to keep their systems secure by hiring personnel who specialize in cybersecurity, using secure passwords, keeping software up to date, and properly training staff.
Need Help with Telemetry Negligence? Contact Our Medical Malpractice Lawyers
Testimonials
Not only were they so professional but also so caring and thoughtful. It was very difficult going over the facts in our mother's case but they were so compassionate and understanding and allowed us to be with them every step of the way. We were able to sit in on the depositions and we were really able to see how hard they worked on our behalf.
During that time, my family and I suffered the loss of my mother. Mr. Levin and Mr. Perconti were more than just our lawyers. Words can’t really express our gratitude.
They were most patient and responded timely to many questions throughout the entire process. All demonstrated professionalism and extensive knowledge of case and state laws. Their in-depth investigative work uncovered details which were unknown to us and yet sadly confirmed our suspicions. We would recommend the Levin and Perconti Law firm and especially this team.
During that time, my family and I suffered the loss of my mother. Mr. Levin and Mr. Peconti were more than just our lawyers. Words can’t really express our gratitude. My family and I will always be grateful for the compassion that they showed us. I want to thank you for what you did for my family, and for always being there for us.
Margaret’s representation, guidance, and professionalism gave us the sense that we could put our trust in Levin & Perconti and the final outcome proved that to be true.
If you or your loved one has suffered harm from telemetry negligence, you may be eligible to recover substantial compensation through a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Our award-winning medical malpractice lawyers at Levin & Perconti have stood up for injured patients since 1992 and have secured over $1 billion in settlements and verdicts. Through our 32+ years of experience, we have identified the most effective and aggressive approach for handling each case.
Call us today at (312) 332-2872 or contact us online to schedule a free case review.
Legally Reviewed by
John J. Perconti
Contact Us
- Free Consultation
- (312) 332-2872
"*" indicates required fields
Notable Results
SETTLEMENT
for a 5-year-old boy run over by a fire truck as he played on a fire hydrant, resulting in the loss of his leg and half of his pelvis
SETTLEMENT
for the family of a 32-year-old woman who was killed when their pick-up truck was rear-ended by a semi-truck
VERDICT
for a 23-year-old woman who suffered multiple leg fractures in an automobile collision
Our Office
325 N LaSalle Dr Suite 300
Chicago, IL 60654
312-332-2872
