Remote monitoring

This section applies to installations in which the alarm is by a remote control. The guidelines here apply to

An alarm system intended to enable remote monitoring should be provided with a means, such as a two-way switch, to set  configuration mode: local vs. remote

The usability failure mode

Recommended protection

Validation

Communication problem

The information in remote unit about the patient situation might not be updated

Alarms

In remote configuration, if the patient unit is in Remote mode, both the patient unit and the remote unit should continuously check the communication line and alert in case of communication problems.

 Usability testing:
  1. Set the alarm system to remote monitoring
  2. Disconnect the remote unit
  3. Verify that the users recognize that the remote unit is disconnected

Alarm centers

Multi-patient monitoring. This section applies to installations in which the alarm audience is a person who needs to monitor several distributed patients

The usability failure mode

Recommended protection

Validation

Patient identification

In case of alarm, it is not clear who generates the alarm

Patient identification

The patient data should be transmitted and displayed on the center screen

 Usability testing

Portable devices

Portable devices used for remote control of a single patient, such as for home installations.

The usability failure mode

Recommended protection

Validation

The remote device is turned off

The user of the remote unit might be unaware that the remote unit is turned off

Alert at the local unit

If the alarm system is in Remote mode, it should continuously indicate the state of the remote unit, and notify when the remote unit is off or disconnected. The notification should be such that another person would be alerted about the problem.

 Usability testing:
  1. Set the system to Remote mode
  2. Verify that the remote indication is On
  3. Turn Off the remote unit
  4. Verify that another person is alerted

The portable device is in a noisy environment

The user might miss the sound alarm

Alert validation

  • The remote device should have a vibration feature
  • The operation instructions should make it clear that vibration must be sensible
 Usability testing of the sensibility of the vibration of the remote unit.