Sound Practices: Noise Control in the Healthcare Environment

Unwanted sound can have a negative impact on patient outcomes and caregiver effectiveness. Speech privacy is crucial to protecting patient rights under HIPAA. However, recent studies show that hospital noise levels have increased significantly over the past five decades. Understanding the basics of sound transmission and measurement is essential to a realistic assessment of a facility’s sound environment. Environmental design strategies for noise reduction and sound management include the maintenance and replacement of hospital equipment; the layout and acoustical treatment of patient rooms, nurses’ stations, and corridors; and the implementation of emerging technologies to mask sound, reduce speech intelligibility, and introduce healing sound into the environment.