Research: Are hospitals too noisy? | Patient Centered Care and Trauma Informed Care for Pediatric Patients - HEALTHCARE TOOLBOX

Pediatric Medical Traumatic Stress

A new study of adult hospital patients found that "Despite the importance of sleep for recovery, hospital noise may put patients at risk for sleep loss and its associated negative effects."

A new study of adult hospital patients found that "Despite the importance of sleep for recovery, hospital noise may put patients at risk for sleep loss and its associated negative effects." The study measured decibel levels objectively, and linked this to patient sleep disruption. Noise disruptions came from technology (pagers, alarms, intercoms) and from people (roommates, staff conversations). Hospitalist News points out that "patient report of noise is now a reported measure on Medicare’s Hospital Compare" and thus may be tracked more carefully to improve the patient experience.

What does this mean for our pediatric patients? What is your hospital doing to help kids get the best sleep they can?