The Med/Surg Noise Reduction Action Group Board of Commissioners Meeting February 2, 2011 Presented dby: Tanya Rutherford, RN Gretchen Souza, RN
Introduction o Noise is a problem and noise reduction is something that needs to be taken seriously. o Increased noise can be harmful to the well being and healing of the patients. o OMC received low scores in the Quiet at Night? category according to a Washington State Hospital Association survey of overnight hospital stays in 2009 2010. o The Med/Surg unit is the largest inpatient unit in the hospital. o A team was created to implement noise reduction interventions on the Med/Surg unit. o A Med/Surg Noise Reduction Survey was sent out to all OMC staff tffwho conduct tbusiness on the unit. There were 203 survey responses.
What the Patients Are Telling Us o Below are examples of comments patients made about their stay at Olympic Medical Center: My roommate was really noisy noisy. Very cold and noisy. Screaming patient at night. Awful noise level at all hours. Im I m sure it was impacted by neighbors on both sides that were hard of hearing. I had to get better so I could get out of here and get a good night s sleep. It was way too noisy. It sounded ddlike there was a party going on last night. ih I wasn t invited. The nursing care was great but I feel delirious from not getting genough sleep because it was too noisy.
Survey Results: Question One
Survey Results: Question Two
Survey Results: Question Three
Survey Results: Question Four
Survey Results: Question Five o Please provide feedback on what you feel we can do to reduce noise on our unit. o There were 111 comments. Some comments were: Answer patient bells more quickly. A noise scanner, like speed zones. Switch to a silent patient call system. The background noise discourages any sense of peace and quiet. Always close patient room doors for a few minutes while vacuuming. Keep voices low. Walk to the person rather than calling down the hallway. Ongoing education/awareness by staff, visual reminders for family family. Pad the bottom of the tube system.
Survey Results: Question Five (cont.) Posters. Windows in the doors so we can see them but the door can be shut to keep out the noise. Turn volume down on beepers and cell phones. Half inch wall of Plexiglas installed at 2 West and 2 West Main desk area to enclose phone/personal conversations as a noise barrier. Clearly posted hours for visitors. Sound absorbing panels. Lower volumes on electronic devices. Minimize use of emergency cords in bathrooms. All staff needs to feel empowered to give immediate feedback to staff talking too loudly.
Survey Results: Question Six
Survey Results: Question Seven
Action Plan o Effective February 1, 2011. o The admitting nurse will inform the patient and/or family members of OMC s commitment to try and provide a quiet environment that is conducive to healing. They will also stress the fact that hospitals are not always quiet. o Quiet Time Service: Tent cards will be placed onevery bedside table offering the patient a choice of the following Quiet Time services: Ear plugs Walk before rest time Additional pillows, warm blanket White noise machine Offer to close door, if appropriate it CD Player, offering a selection of various CD s
Action Plan (cont.) o Stop lights. o Time to Get Quiet visual cue around clock. o Quiet Zone tent cards on charge nurse desk. o Work with maintenance on doors. o Pictures of staff with ihsshh 8x10. o Quiet Zone cones.
Future Plans o Headphones for televisions. o Signage for elevators: You are entering a patient care area. Please use your inside voice. o Sshh buttons. o Look into a quiet overhead sound/background noise. o MP3 players/ipods and headphones h for Quiet ttime Service. o Partitions offering sound dampening at nurse s station and 2 West library area. o Acoustic tiles. o Look at windows in doors for patient rooms. o New wheels on carts. o Request ongoing staff tfffeedback kto improve our program. o Spread our success throughout OMC.
Goals o To implement noise reduction strategies and interventions on the Med/Surg unit and see anincrease inpressganey survey scores. o To share our successes throughout OMC. o To provide an environment that is conducive to healing. o To become a Gold Standard for our noise reduction program.
Thank You! o Questions? Working together to provide excellence in health care.