For example, when a monitor lead falls off the patient. The usual case is that an alarm sounds and the caregiver examines the patients, looks at other factors and determines what clinical action should be taken. If the reason for an alarm is unknown, then a common reaction to an alarm is to instruct the local caregivers to keep an extra eye on the situation until the meaning of the alarm can be determine. SPC methods present vital sign data so that we can read the patient's specific story. Vital signs tell us something about how the body is behaving and how it is reacting to treatment.
Monitoring is a critical clinical activity.
The current practice of observing and recording vital sign data one or twice an hour results in data that were of marginal value to caregivers. Because of the manner vital signs were presented, many caregivers have come to assume that vital sign data have little value. To learn to read SPC vital sign charts the caregiver must change their attitudes toward vital sign data and learn to read the story that is being told. SPC gives the physician quality real-time information that can result in better clinical decisions.