System for determining confidence in respiratory rate measurements

A method of triggering an alarm based on information related to a physiological parameter, the method comprising:

• by a processor:
• providing functionality for a clinician to specify an alarm delay time;
• monitoring a first physiological parameter reflecting physiological information obtained from a physiological sensor coupled to a patient, the first physiological parameter comprising respiratory rate;
• determining whether the first physiological parameter has satisfied an a first alarm threshold for an amount of time corresponding to the alarm delay time;
• triggering an alarm in response to said determining that a value of the first physiological parameter has satisfied the first alarm threshold
• monitoring a second physiological parameter, the second physiological parameter comprising oxygen saturation;
• determining whether the second physiological parameter has fallen below a second alarm threshold;
• automatically reducing the alarm delay time in response to the second physiological parameter having fallen below the second alarm threshold;
• and
• modifying a display of a confidence indicator based on the amount of time that the first physiological parameter has satisfied the first alarm threshold.