Download or read book The Relationship Between Noise Levels in a Hospital Environment and Patient Reported Noise Levels written by Nancy Diane Ludwick and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Hospitals are habitually loud and noisy environments, not always conducive to rest and healing for those recovering from a serious illness or surgical procedure. Studies have shown that a noisy hospital environment can adversely affect a patient’s health, recovery and perception of the hospital experience. Patient satisfaction is mandated to be measured using the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Health care Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey. Results of this survey are a concern to health systems because they can significantly affect the financial reimbursement from Medicare. The specific HCAHPS question pertaining to nighttime noise is the lowest scoring question nationwide, and is therefore a focus of attention to find ways to decrease noise levels, thereby improving patient satisfaction. Research questions. 1. Does patient perception of hospital noise improve as measured by the HCAHPS survey question “During your hospital stay, how often was the area round around your room quiet at night?” after a move from an older, smaller, telemetry unit to a new, larger telemetry unit within a new hospital with larger private rooms, and newer building materials? 2. Is there a significant difference in decibel levels measured with the BAFX Products® Digital Sound Level Meter between the older telemetry unit and the newer unit? 3. Is there a significant relationship between self-reported patient perception of hospital noise and decibel levels as measured with the BAFX Products® Digital Sound Level Meter before and after a move from an older telemetry unit to a newer unit? Methods. HCAHPS results were collected for the months of February 2015 and April 2015 from patients in the older unit and the newer unit, respectively with attention to the nighttime noise question. Decibel levels were recorded using the BAFX Products® Digital Sound Level Meter on the older unit and the newer unit. Results. HCAHPS results of the nighttime noise question improved significantly after the move into the new medical center as hypothesized. Mean decibel levels were not found to be significantly lower on the new unit compared to those of the older unit, although decibel levels varied significantly throughout the decibel data collection period of time. Conclusion. As the perception of noise levels in the hospital continues to be the lowest scoring question on the HCAHPS survey nationwide, it is imperative that health care systems, nursing and hospital staff focus their efforts on finding ways to reduce noise, with the goal of improving patient satisfaction and promoting a healing environment