Like any big city with a night life, hospitals are bustling with activity 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Unlike those visiting a big city, that’s exactly the sort of thing our guests don’t want.
Patients deserve a healing environment that is as peaceful as possible, despite the inevitable noises on a hospital floor. Hospitals that take actions to keep the care environment quiet report significantly higher patient experience scores than those that don’t.
That’s why SCL Health is working to educate our associates on how to create quieter and more restful environments day and night at our care sites, in order to provide the most healing environment possible and help our patients to have better experiences and better outcomes. Nursing and quality leaders say even just a few simple things can make a big difference in how patients feel – and rate us – during their stay.
For instance, some patients have reported being unable to rest due to the personal conversations overheard in hallways, while others talk about the incessant sounds of alarms throughout the night.
So, what can you do to promote a calmer clinical environment?
- Be intentional about identifying and reducing unnecessary noise such as conversations, preventable call lights and alarms.
- Put in work orders for squeaky doors and wheels, or other noisy equipment.
- Communicate with our patients that we are committed to creating a restful environment. Offer them a quiet kit (ear plugs and eye masks) if you know there will be construction, for example. Let them know how long it will last, and perhaps offer to shut the door, if appropriate.
- Engage with the rest of your team around a quiet environment. Be accepting of feedback from your colleagues, and be willing to give feedback and take action on your own when you see opportunities to reduce noise for our patients.
