Denver Hospital Stops the Noise
01/21/2007
A study published in 2005 by Ilene Busch Vishniac or Johns Hopkins University reported that daytime hospital sound levels around the world had increased to 72 decibels, about the same as a noisy restaurant. Today, many hospitals are responding by spending money to reduce noise. The new $534-million, 270-bed Children's Hospital and medical campuses in Denver, which will open in the fall, plans to improve patient and staff satisfaction by focusing on noise reduction.
Recent studies also have shown that noise can add to patient recovery time and physician and staff errors. Children's Hospital will reduce noise by paging staff via text message or phone instead of overhead paging, using special sound-absorbing flooring and acoustical ceiling tiles and decentralized nurse stations.
An article in the Denver Post reports that other area hospitals have taken steps to reduce noise, such as equipping delivery carts with large, rubber wheels and playing soft background music. A New York hospital requires nurses to wear rubber-soled shoes.
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