Noise pollution presents a myriad of problems such as fatigue, miscommunication, threats to patient safety and decreased employee satisfaction. Studies show that sound levels in the average healthcare setting may reach more than double the recommended 45 decibel daytime maximum suggested by the Environmental Protection Agency, according to the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses.
Equipment noise, communication, music, monitors, clinical alarms and overhead pagers are just a handful of contributors to noise in the healthcare setting. While some noise may be inevitable, hospitals can still take steps internally and externally to reduce distraction.
One avenue hospital leaders can take is through vendors that provide sound-absorbing materials. "Noise in any environment is going to be distracting," says Michael Binns, president and founder of Acoustical Solutions. "But noise in an operating groom is a bit more critical." Hard, flat and parallel surfaces in operating rooms lead to reflective noise, which continues to bounce around the room, building up energy and causing fatigue.
Hospitals should consider the noise criteria of a room when building it. If they need further noise reduction, sound-absorbing materials can be used to treat various surfaces in the operating room. If hospitals are considering acoustical treatments to reduce noise, they should ensure sound products are cleanable and don't interfere with patients or staff.
"We just installed acoustic equipment into a hospital for people with special needs," says Mr. Binns. "We installed acoustical treatments in all the hallways above the doors, so it wasn't in an area where it would be beat up by people and carts, but it still reduced acoustic energy and made it a quiet environment." A simple way to keep patient rooms quieter is by installing acoustical door seals on doors at a cost about $300 per door, according to Mr. Binns, and acoustic wall treatments for hospital environments can range from $10 to $12 per square foot.
Diane Radford, MD, FACS, FRCSEd, is a surgical oncologist from St. Louis who says music in ORs is one of her biggest pet peeves. "I think the background noise of the radio or CDs can interfere with communication between team members and the transmission of vital information, such as naming a pathology specimen properly," says Dr. Radford. Some surgeons prefer to operate with music for relaxation purposes, but Dr. Radford will turn off the radio once other surgeons have finished their case. "Many times the staff thank me, as they found it disruptive, too," says Dr. Radford.
Read more about OR efficiencies:
- 5 Strategies to Improve Patient Flow in a Busy Hospital
- 4 Ways to Save OR Staff Time
- 6 Tweaks to Improve the Efficiency of Hospital ORs
Equipment noise, communication, music, monitors, clinical alarms and overhead pagers are just a handful of contributors to noise in the healthcare setting. While some noise may be inevitable, hospitals can still take steps internally and externally to reduce distraction.
One avenue hospital leaders can take is through vendors that provide sound-absorbing materials. "Noise in any environment is going to be distracting," says Michael Binns, president and founder of Acoustical Solutions. "But noise in an operating groom is a bit more critical." Hard, flat and parallel surfaces in operating rooms lead to reflective noise, which continues to bounce around the room, building up energy and causing fatigue.
Hospitals should consider the noise criteria of a room when building it. If they need further noise reduction, sound-absorbing materials can be used to treat various surfaces in the operating room. If hospitals are considering acoustical treatments to reduce noise, they should ensure sound products are cleanable and don't interfere with patients or staff.
"We just installed acoustic equipment into a hospital for people with special needs," says Mr. Binns. "We installed acoustical treatments in all the hallways above the doors, so it wasn't in an area where it would be beat up by people and carts, but it still reduced acoustic energy and made it a quiet environment." A simple way to keep patient rooms quieter is by installing acoustical door seals on doors at a cost about $300 per door, according to Mr. Binns, and acoustic wall treatments for hospital environments can range from $10 to $12 per square foot.
Diane Radford, MD, FACS, FRCSEd, is a surgical oncologist from St. Louis who says music in ORs is one of her biggest pet peeves. "I think the background noise of the radio or CDs can interfere with communication between team members and the transmission of vital information, such as naming a pathology specimen properly," says Dr. Radford. Some surgeons prefer to operate with music for relaxation purposes, but Dr. Radford will turn off the radio once other surgeons have finished their case. "Many times the staff thank me, as they found it disruptive, too," says Dr. Radford.
Read more about OR efficiencies:
- 5 Strategies to Improve Patient Flow in a Busy Hospital
- 4 Ways to Save OR Staff Time
- 6 Tweaks to Improve the Efficiency of Hospital ORs