Claxton-Hepburn aims to cut noise to allow patients to get better sleep

OGDENSBURG — A good night's sleep is important, especially if you are recovering from an illness or surgery.

According to Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center officials, that's why the hospital is working to cut the noise in surgical and recovery units by 10 percent over the next three months.

"Studies have shown that excessive noise can contribute to patient falls, cause confusion and may lead to an increase in medication usage," David J. Ferris, senior vice president of patient care services, said in a statement. "It increases their anxiety and decreases their confidence in the clinical competence of the staff, putting into question basic consideration on the part of the hospital in general."

According to hospital spokeswoman Laura C. Shea, most of the noise at the hospital comes from the staff and nurses talking, but the sounds of beepers, alarms, machines and telephones can also be a problem.

To cut down on the human element, last month the hospital installed in the medical surgical unit a decibel measuring devise, designed to look and act like a stop light. Hospital officials plan to install the device in both the intensive care and acute rehabilitation units if noise levels drop in the medical surgical unit.

"It's a little early, but I think it has had an impact," Mrs. Shea said. "It's a visual clue for nurses to see, 'oh, wait a minute — we need to be quiet'."

Last year the hospital formed a task force to look into the noise level after an industry survey reported that only 51 percent of patients at the hospital said that it was always quiet at night, Mrs. Shea said.

While the hospital is above the state's 47 percent average in the same category, it ranked lower than the 56 percent national average, she said.

"They are not 100 percent aware of how loud it might be, but the percent of a positive response was not as high as we would like it to be," she said. "We know that hospitals across the country struggle with this question, but it's something we're trying to address."