2.  Background
 Results and Analysis
› Data Acquisition
› Implementation
 Conclusions
 Recommendations
 Future of Project

3.  Formed in January through MDP
 Diagnose problem with noise levels
 7A/7B
 Goal: Reduce noise levels?
 Re-analyzed problem
 Link between rest and noise levels
 New Goal: Change perception of noise

4.  Worked with ISR to create survey
 Interviewed staff and patients
 Noise Inventory
 Collected and analyzed data
 Further research
 Determined short-/long-term changes
 Implemented short-term changes
 Interviewed patients
 Collected and analyzed results

5. Staff Sample Size: 35
Patient Sample Size: 33

6. Have worked in hospital setting for <
10 years
50%
Have been working at this particular
unit between 2 and 5 years
60%
Believe the loudest time of day is
6am-noon
57%
Believe alarms/medical equipment
impede a patients ability to rest
69%
Believe maintenance/doors impede
rest
67%

7. Length of stay of patients 33% have been
here over 1 week
Average hospital stay rating 4.59/5 (5 is the
best)
Overall stay rating a 5/5 64%
Believe they have perfect hearing 67%
Average room rating 2.4/5 (5 is loud)
Believe that the loudest time of day
is 6am-noon
52%

8. Close door/Curtain
39%
Explain about the
beds/unplug/switch
bed
22%
Gave complaint to
supervisors/head
nurse
12%
Ask people/staff to
quiet down
12%
No complaints
7%
Offer ear plugs
3%
Quiet the monitor
3%
Apologize
2%

9. Close/Modify doors
33%
Less talking of
staff/remind one
another
22%
New beds
14%
Quieter
machines/monitors
10%
Modify
walls/ceilings/floor to
break and absorb
the sounds
7%
Alter
Alarms
7%
No ideas
5%
Add white noise
2%

10. No complaints or
ideas/fine how it is
50%
Earplugs
13%
Cart maintenance
5%
Door
maintenance/oil
hinges
4%
All Private rooms
4%
Stop IVs from
beeping so easily or
when nothing is
wrong
4%
Discharge the
patient
4%
White noise/sound
machines
4%
Get quieter toilets
4%
Keep the door shut
4%
Have people just
be more aware
4%

11. 0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16

13.  Phones
› Operational: Close doors, Designated Cell
Phone Areas (by elevators), Turn Down Volume
at Night/During Quiet Hours
› Design: Play White Noise through Headphones,
Sound Absorbent Ceiling/Wall Materials
 Beds
› Operational: Use different beds
› Design: Play White Noise through Headphones

14.  Doors
› Design: Change Latches, Play White Noise
through Headphones, Sound Absorbent
Ceiling/Wall Materials, Put Windows on Doors
 Maintenance
› Operational: Maintain Equipment (Wheels!), Dim
Lights During Night/Quiet Hours, Close Doors
› Design: Put “Shhhhh!” Signs on All Doors

15.  IV Alarms
› Design: Modify Notification Method, Play White
Noise through Headphones
 Uncategorized Noises
› Operational: Special Admittance Hours/Location,
Play Nature Sounds/Soothing Music
› Design: Install Fans to Mask Noise, Carpet Tube
Delivery Systems

16.  7A
› “Shhhhh” signs on doors to patient rooms, supply
closets, and bathrooms
 7B
› “Quiet Hour” from 1 – 2 pm
 Doors closed, lights dimmed, staff focus on being
quiet
› White noise machine trials in patient rooms
 Post-implementation surveys to administer
for 7A/7B

17. Patient Sample Size: 37

18.  Mention of morning as loudest time of day
increased
› Before: 31.25%
› After: 60%
 Mention of patients/families as noise
contributors decreased by 47%
› Before: 25%
› After: 13.3%
 Mention of hospital staff as noise contributors
decreased by 29%
› Before: 37.5%
› After: 26.7%

19.  Overall stay rating shows no major change
› 0 – 5; 5 is best
› Before: 4.41
› After: 4.07
 Noise in room shows no major change
› 0 – 5; 5 is loudest
› Before: 1.72
› After: 1.8
 Percentage of patients believing noisiness can
be changed decreased by 24%
› Before: 43.75%
› After: 33.33%

20.  Mention of alarms/medical equipment as
noise contributors increased by 49%
› Before: 31.25%
› After: 46.7%
 Mention of everyday noises as noise
contributors increased by 433%
› Before: 6.25%
› After: 33.33%

22.  Patients’ overall perception of alarms, beeps,
and IVs rolling through hall were more
negative (non-human-controlled)
 Patients’ overall perception of beds rolling
through hall, cabinets and doors closing,
pagers, phones, trash cans in hall, and floor
cleaner (human-controlled)

23.  Morning (6 am to 12 pm) is consistently perceived
as loudest time of day
 “Shhhhh” signs seem to have made visiting
families and hospital staff more aware of resting
environment
› Decrease in belief that noisiness can be improved
› Decrease in contributions from patients/families and
hospital staff to noise
› Decrease in perception of human-controlled noises
 Increase in contributions from alarms/medical
equipment and everyday noises to noise show
possible need for quiet hour and/or white noise

24.  Mention of morning as loudest time of day
increased
› Before: 43%
› After: 62.5%
 Mention of patients/families as noise
contributors increased by 25%
› Before: 10%
› After: 12.5%
 Mention of hospital staff as noise contributors
increased by 51%
› Before: 29%
› After: 43.75%

25.  Overall stay rating shows no major change
› 0 – 5; 5 is best
› Before: 4.45
› After: 4.1
 Noise in room shows minimal change
› 0 – 5; 5 is loudest
› Before: 1.9
› After: 2.47
 Percentage of patients believing noisiness can
be changed decreased by 22%
› Before: 48%
› After: 37.5%

26.  38% noticed quiet hours, and 83% of those
believed they had good impact
 Mention of alarms/medical equipment as
noise contributors increased by 150%
› Before: 10%
› After: 25%
 Mention of everyday noises as noise
contributors decreased by 61%
› Before: 48%
› After: 18.75%

27.  Placed white noise machine in middle of
patient room, unbeknownst to patient(s)
 Interviewed patient and asked if white noise
machine was noticed
 White noise machine removed from room
 Next day, if still present, comparison of sleep
from 1st to 2nd night

28.  Sample size very small
 Individual cases
 Case 1
› 1st night: Noticed machine, and said “I really
appreciate it…it drowns and mellows out
everything…5 on a scale of 0 to 5 of being good”
› 2nd night: Awake most of the night; noticed
hallway and people noise through walls

29.  Case 2
› 1st night: Noticed machine; said machine “works”
and he “loved the white noise machine” because
it “helped a lot” and was very upset about it being
moved
› 2nd night: Sleep was worse than 1st night; said
they should “put them in every room”
 Other cases either were not interviewed both
nights or did not notice the machine in the
room

30.  Morning (6 am to 12 pm) is consistently
perceived as loudest time of day
 Quiet hours seem to have reduced impact of
everyday noises on patients’ rest
 White noise machines seem to aid patients’
sleep
 Increase in contributions from patients/families
and hospital staff to noise show possible need
for “Shhhhh” signs
 Increase in contribution from alarms/medical
equipment to noise show possible need for
more white noise

31.  Continue quiet hour in 7A/7B
 Increase amount of white noise machines
available for patients to use
 Put up more “Shhhhh” signs to spread
awareness in 7A/7B

32.  4 new team members
 We will be moving to mentoring role
 Team will focus on 2 main projects
› Re-design of IV alarms by patient beds
› Implementation of pink noise in patient rooms