Plain Language Emergency Alerts Position Statement-Plain Language Emergency Alerts Position Statement

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The Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) states in a position statement that plain language emergency alerts should be adopted by all hospitals. The lack of standardized emergency alert codes across the healthcare sector has led to confusion and a wide range of codes being used to designate critical situations. For example, in Pennsylvania hospitals alone, there were 80 different codes for 37 functional categories, resulting in 154 combinations of terminology and intended meaning. This code confusion is particularly concerning for healthcare workers who may work at multiple facilities and struggle to remember the meanings and response protocols for different codes.<br /><br />The ENA advocates for the use of plain language alerts, which eliminate code confusion and provide specific instructions on what people should do in emergency situations. Plain language alerts can easily adapt to novel situations and align with preordained response protocols. The ENA is supported in this position by various organizations, including the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.<br /><br />Opposition to plain language alerts is often rooted in the belief that patients and visitors will panic in an emergency. However, studies have shown that people tend not to panic when provided with clear information and direction. Plain language alerts have many benefits, including improved response and safety for patients, staff, and visitors.<br /><br />The ENA recommends specific types of plain language alerts, such as facility alerts (e.g., bed capacity, fire alarm activation) and medical alerts (e.g., cardiopulmonary arrest, stroke response team). They also emphasize the importance of collaboration between national and state ENA chapters, hospitals, and government agencies to advocate for standard national plain language alerts.<br /><br />In conclusion, the ENA argues that plain language emergency alerts should be implemented in all hospitals to eliminate code confusion and improve the effectiveness of responses to critical situations.

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Keywords

Emergency Nurses Association

plain language emergency alerts

standardized emergency alert codes

code confusion

healthcare sector

specific instructions

response protocols

Department of Homeland Security

Federal Bureau of Investigation

improved response and safety