‘Quiet ICU’ Innovator CalmWave Secures $5.2M to Reduce Alarm Fatigue in Hospitals

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‘Quiet ICU’ Innovator CalmWave Secures .2M to Reduce Alarm Fatigue in Hospitals — New ICU monitor Geekwire

CalmWave, a health-tech startup focused on creating quieter and more efficient intensive care units (ICUs), has raised $5.2 million in seed funding. The company aims to combat alarm fatigue—a pervasive issue in hospitals caused by excessive and often unnecessary patient alerts.

Addressing Alarm Fatigue

Alarm fatigue occurs when healthcare providers become desensitized to the constant barrage of alerts from medical devices, which can hinder patient care and increase stress levels for staff. CalmWave’s platform leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze alarm patterns and reduce false or redundant alerts, creating a calmer and safer environment for both patients and medical teams.

The problem is widespread, with studies showing that up to 90% of alarms in ICUs are not clinically relevant. By focusing on “alarm optimization,” CalmWave seeks to improve response times for critical alerts while minimizing disruptions caused by irrelevant ones.

Seed Funding and Backing

The $5.2 million funding round was led by Bonfire Ventures, with participation from notable investors like Tau Ventures and AI2 Incubator. The funding will be used to further develop CalmWave’s technology, conduct pilot programs in hospitals, and scale its operations to meet the growing demand for innovative healthcare solutions.

Leadership Insights

CalmWave CEO and co-founder Justin Kocher highlighted the urgency of their mission:
“Our goal is to empower clinicians with tools that enhance focus and improve patient outcomes. Alarm fatigue is not just a noise problem; it’s a safety issue.”

Transforming ICUs

The startup’s vision aligns with broader efforts to modernize healthcare settings through technology. Hospitals adopting CalmWave’s platform could see improved staff well-being, better patient recovery experiences, and more efficient use of resources.

As healthcare systems worldwide grapple with rising patient loads and staffing challenges, CalmWave’s approach to creating “quiet ICUs” has the potential to become a game-changer in critical care.