In a hospital environment, it seems that noise is unavoidable. Machines humming, patients talking, nurses walking down the hallway, surgeries taking place — noise seems to permeate every inch of the facility. If you work at a hospital, you learn how to tune it out over time. However, patients don't have that luxury. And excess noise isn't just annoying; it can actually impede recovery.
How can the hospital acoustic design impact a patient's recovery?
Unless there is a baby on the way, nobody is in a hospital because they want to be there. They're suffering from some kind of disease or physical injury that's too severe to be treated at home. As a result, most patients are already suffering from high stress levels. They're anxious and irritable and want to get out of there as soon as possible. Any nurse who has treated an irritable patient knows how high stress levels can affect a person's mood.When you're stressed, it seems that every little thing can set you off. Unfortunately, hospitals are full of irritating noises. Some are sudden, while others are a constant hum in the background. Shouts, slamming doors, rattling carts, buzzing phones — they all contribute to the constant background noise, and each requires different acoustic solutions to properly mitigate it.
Every health professional knows that stress can negatively impact health. If a patient is trying to heal from an injury or illness, being under constant stress can slow the healing process. In fact, the patient's condition can take a turn for the worse if he or she is not in a comfortable environment. For this reason, it's important not to underestimate the importance of acoustics in hospitals.
How can you improve the acoustics in health care environments?
Unfortunately, the acoustic requirements for hospitals typically don't involve soundproofing the entire facility. However, there are many changes that can be made to your facility, whether during the construction phase or afterwards, that will improve the comfort of employees and patients alike. Some of the best hospitals have taken these extra measures to ensure comfort by installing a variety of soundproofing and acoustic solutions. Our selection of health care acoustic panels can greatly reduce the amount of background noise in a facility, and they come in a variety of colors and even bleachable materials that are ideal for hospitals and doctors’ offices. Without the constant hum of telephones and machinery, patients are able to relax and recover in a more peaceful environment.At SoundAway, we offer a wide range of soundproofing products that can minimize both echo and noise traveling through the walls of your facility, reducing the amount of stress placed on your patients. Our team of experts has worked with many health care facilities to provide thoughtful solutions, as well as with a variety of retail stores, offices, recording studios, auditoriums and other major companies throughout the United States. Get in touch with us today to see how we can reduce the noise in your health care facility.
For more information on assessing how many sound-absorbing acoustic panels are needed for your space, read more here.
Read more on minimizing noise through walls.
