How important is acoustics in hospitals? Just ask Medicare. A recent Washington Post article highlights how Medicare reimbursement payments for hospitals will be linked to patient satisfaction scores (such as Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Surveys). What does this have to do with acoustics? As it turns out, acoustics is the worse scoring section of patient satisfaction surveys nationwide!
The full article on “Patient Ratings to Affect Medicare Payments” is available on the Washington Post website. The bottom line for hospitals is this: Acoustics is a major issue that needs to be addressed comprehensively for patient satisfaction, staff work environments, building sustainability, and soon… Medicare funding!
At Acoustics By Design we recently worked with a major medical center to perform a hospital sound study / noise survey. We followed up with recommendations for how to reduce background noise levels, increase patient privacy and satisfaction, and create quieter healing environments for patients and staff alike. Many hospitals are taking similar steps to raise their patient satisfaction scores.
If your patients are giving low scores for the “noise in or around the room” survey question, give us a call at Acoustics By Design. Our professional engineers are experts are helping hospitals create quiet, healing environments.
