Insights & Solutions

HCAHPS scores related to noise in the hospital environment are typically among the lowest. Acoustic intervention packages implemented by healthcare organizations are often a combination of built environment and operational measures.  

The following are compiled from research literature, case studies, interviews, and other materials to provide an overview on the topic of healthcare reform.  

The following are compiled from research literature, case studies, interviews, and other materials to provide an overview on the topic of noise.  

Learn about: the contribution technologies made to improve patient outcomes, the use of multiple technologies to improve patient care, and the strategies used by the design team to avoid creating a solitary feeling for the nurses working in a decentralized configuration. 

Learn about: how one hospital’s emergency room pilot project increased patient satisfaction, the standards developed post-pilot to decrease noise transfer to other areas of the hospital, and why having design changes on paper may not be enough.

Learn about: how St. Mary's Hospital targeted noise reduction goals for their cardiac care unit, about onsite sound measurements that informed material selection, and about design changes that resulted in reduced noise from the highest sources of sound.

Learn about: how Florida Waterman built patient rooms to reduce noise, how patient satisfaction scores improved as a result of room design changes, and how the team studied the impact of the new design strategy.

Learn about: the importance of articulating  investment decisions in the context of a return on investment, the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services' pay-for-performance targets and opportunities to improve facilities as a result of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Learn about: how patient rooms can flex to meet treatment requirements and increase capacity, why caregivers must work side by side with architects and designers and how a redesign of processes and staff work habits allows for an increase in efficiency.

Learn about: the ways sound can support a healing environment, creating a culture of appropriate noise levels within a busy healthcare setting and engaging staff  in building a healing environment in their own units, for patients and for themselves.