Evidence based design for improved patient experience

In addition to the health benefits of improving acoustical comfort for patients and staff in healthcare environments, there is now a financial incentive. Since October 2012, Value Based Purchasing reimbursements of Medicare from the Federal Government is dependent in part upon Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) patient satisfaction survey results, which includes a rating for the noise level at night. This study explores the relationship of sound level with their associated patient satisfaction scores from hospital noise surveys performed by Acoustics By Design. The noise study results are presented across different parameters such as the type of patient unit, patient noise levels, nurses’ station noise levels, time of day, and private versus semi-private rooms. Measurements were also performed prior to and after completion of acoustical/noise mitigation.