Documentation of hospital communication noise levels.

Abstract

Unfortunately, the paucity of literature and enlightened concern regarding destructive noise within the hospital environment has masked the inherent danger to patient care and personnel. With the introduction of noise-making devices such as computers, it is almost easy to become acclimated to this intrusion of privacy. There are a number of studies indicating that the increase of noise causes a decrease in performance and mental stability of individuals, and we feel that this should be a very serious consideration before the installation of any communication system.3,4,5 We would also like to encourage the establishment of a set of specifications which the vendors would agree to abide by when placing equipment in the hospital. Our own attempts to create vendor interest in this area have not produced significant results up to this time. Without a direct economic demand for a type of device enclusure or containment as described in this paper, we will continue to be offered the standard operational production model, which we will eventually have to retrofit and modify to make acceptable to the hospital. This is both an expensive and hazardous procedure because the vendor at that point can void warranty for a number of reasons. We would encourage hospitals and vendors to consider this issue urgently and to evaluate their equipment so that adequate data can be obtained by prospective customers when they plan to purchase peripheral and main frame equipment.