Hospitals are noisier than ever. Worldwide, sound levels inside hospitals average 72 decibels during the day and 60 decibels at night, which far exceeds the standard of 40 decibels or less, set by the World Health Organization.
Studies find that the clamor of modern medicine can harm both patients and staff. Unwanted sound wrecks sleep, raises stress levels, induces medical mistakes, and contributes to alarm fatigue, which occurs when monitors shriek so often they are ignored or turned off, causing safety issues.
In response, hospitals throughout Illinois and the U.S. are launching "quiet campaigns" that include eliminating intercom paging, replacing metal trash cans, installing sound-absorbing flooring and paneling, and dimming lights at night to remind staff to keep their voices down.
Source: Chicago Tribune
Related Stories
Healthcare Facilities | Apr 20, 2018
Revamping pharmacies for public safety and compliance
Released in February 2016, the latest standards of the United States Pharmacopeia’s Chapter 800 Pharmaceutical Compounding—Sterile Preparations builds on earlier regulations set forth by USP 797.
Healthcare Facilities | Apr 16, 2018
JE Dunn Construction and Hoefer Wysocki Architects selected for Sheppard Air Force Base Medical/Dental Clinic design-build contract
The project is targeting LEED Silver certification.
Healthcare Facilities | Mar 28, 2018
Sound health: How tranquility rooms can heal caregivers
Sound can also be healing. It promotes a culture of quietness and enhances environments, not just for patients but also for caretakers.
Healthcare Facilities | Mar 19, 2018
New York’s only freestanding pediatric health facility completed on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus
Shepley Bulfinch designed the project.
Healthcare Facilities | Mar 5, 2018
Four tips for designing the hospital of the future
What exactly is the hospital of future? Or more specifically, what is the future of healthcare design?
Healthcare Facilities | Feb 28, 2018
Healthcare operations: The good and bad of the ‘visit per room per day’ metric
Merely pursuing a high “visit per room per day” metric may drive up other resource needs and, in turn, raise operational costs, writes HDR's Zhanting Gao.
Healthcare Facilities | Feb 21, 2018
New $412 million advanced research center hopes to attract scientists and clinicians in pediatric biomedical research
The Crump Firm is designing the project.
Healthcare Facilities | Feb 16, 2018
Cancer centers' 'one-stop shop'
Healthcare systems ask their AEC partners for design flexibility that is adjustable to advances in medicine and technology.
Healthcare Facilities | Feb 14, 2018
Satellite centers keep cancer treatment closer to patients' orbit
This treatment center is half new construction, half renovation of a building that had been used for family services.
Healthcare Facilities | Feb 1, 2018
Early supplier engagement provides exceptional project outcomes
Efficient supply chains enable companies to be more competitive in the marketplace.
