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Hospital alarms are meant to save lives. But one researcher says the sounds clinicians hear every day may be contributing to alarm fatigue, one of healthcare’s biggest patient safety challenges. In a newly released episode of Curious by Nature, Professor Michael Schutz of McMaster University explains why he believes decades-old hospital alarm sounds deserve a scientific rethink.
Schutz’s research explores whether hospital alarm sounds informed by music and human perception could offer an alternative to decades-old electronic alert tones.
Modern hospitals remain filled with flat electronic alert tones that have become synonymous with patient care. Those sounds have often been compared to vintage 1980s video game consoles, yet Schutz says they were never scientifically tested or validated on humans before becoming embedded in engineering standards.
Instead of improving safety, Schutz argues the widespread use of these alarms has contributed to an environment of constant noise that can overwhelm clinicians and fuel alarm fatigue. The podcast cites estimates linking alarm fatigue to approximately 500 patient deaths over a four-year period.
Why It Matters to Nurses
Few healthcare professionals experience alarm fatigue more directly than nurses.
During a shift, nurses may monitor multiple patients while responding to alerts from cardiac monitors, infusion pumps, ventilators, pulse oximeters, and other medical devices. Individual patients can generate hundreds of alarms each day, most of which require no urgent intervention. Yet every alert demands attention, interrupts patient care, and can contribute to cognitive fatigue over time.
Rethinking Medical Alarm Design
Rather than making alarms louder or more irritating, Schutz’s research asks a different question: Could better sound design help clinicians recognize important alarms more effectively?
An expert in music, cognition, and percussion at McMaster University, Schutz is investigating natural “impact sounds” modeled after percussive instruments such as the orchestral triangle.
Early data discussed in the episode suggest these natural sounds may stand out more effectively than conventional electronic beeps while reducing stress and the psychological numbness associated with repeated exposure to harsh alarms. The work challenges long-standing engineering assumptions that have shaped hospital alarm design for decades.
Could Better Alarm Sounds Improve Patient Safety?
Alarm fatigue has challenged nurses for years, but Schutz’s research suggests one potential way to address the problem may be as simple as changing the sounds clinicians hear every day.
As hospitals continue investing in new technology, his work raises an important question: could smarter alarm design make healthcare safer for both patients and healthcare teams?
Watch the full Curious by Nature interview with Professor Michael Schutz in the embedded video below. The episode is also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
