Physiological alarm threshold determination

A method of reducing nuisance alarms for a physiological parameter by determining an alarm threshold optimized for a specific care unit, the care unit including a plurality of patients being monitored for the physiological parameter, the method comprising:

• in the care unit, electronically measuring patient specific physiological parameters for the plurality of patients using a plurality of patient monitors;
• electronically providing the patient specific physiological parameters to a threshold recommendation system;
• receiving at least one recommended parameter specific alarm threshold value, said value responsive to a number of alarms triggered by said patient specific physiological parameters at said at least one recommended parameter specific alarm threshold value;
• said at least one recommended parameter specific alarm threshold value calculated to reduce said number of alarms at said care center for said parameter by determining how many alarms are generated for each of a range of threshold values and choosing a threshold value from the range of threshold values that reduces a number of alarms;
• and
• programming at least one of said plurality of patient monitors with a threshold value incorporating information gained by said suggested threshold value.