Editor’s Note: This publication originally appeared on PatientSafe Solution’s website.
A few years ago, I went to visit a friend in the hospital in a brand-new facility with state of the art everything. As a nurse, I was excited to see all the new technology (along with my recuperating friend, of course). As I walked into the gleaming building, I couldn’t help but wonder if I had I stumbled into a luxury hotel. The building was exquisitely appointed with lovely artwork, lush plants, inviting furniture, warm lighting, and a trendy coffee shop. We certainly had come a long way from hard plastic chairs in a cold, cramped waiting areas smelling of harsh disinfectant.
After a gracious volunteer gave me directions to my friend’s unit, I trekked through the new space noting how quiet and peaceful the non-patient care areas were – even the elevator “ding” was politely muffled so as not to sound too harsh.
My friend’s inpatient care unit was behind closed double doors. When the doors opened, I was hit by a massive wave of noise: tones, bells, rings, voices, and beeping from every direction. As I expected, the health care technology on the unit was the top of the line and there was a lot of it. Almost every medical device and monitoring system was making some sort of noise, showing a light or message – the din and activity reminded me a bit of a casino. While the hospital was beautiful and designed to be physically comfortable, I questioned how a patient could actually rest to heal in that environment, and how the care team could concentrate with all the noise and interruption. Click here to continue>>
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