risk assessments for noise, vibration & patient satisfaction...mar 20, 2019  · karen munt,...

Healthcare Construction Certificate - Level 1

Risk Assessments for Noise, Vibration & Patient Satisfaction

Healthcare Construction Certificate - Level 1

Program Credits

Marge McFarlane, Superior PerformanceKaren Munt, UnityPoint Health-Meriter

Jon CechvalaJeff Boldt, IMEG

Jeff Eckstein, JH Findorff & Son

Healthcare Construction Certificate - Level 1

Learning Objectives

• Understand which patient care areas are sensitive to noise and vibration

• Understanding impact to HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Provider and Systems)

Healthcare Construction Certificate - Level 1

How Loud is Loud?

Depends on the perception and stress of the listener…

• Confidentiality

• Privacy

• Medical Safety

• Security

Healthcare Construction Certificate - Level 1

Sensitive Clinical Areas• Newborns/NICU• OR/Interventional Procedures• Pathology• Ophthalmology• Anyone trying to rest…

Healthcare Construction Certificate - Level 1

FGI Noise Guidelines

• FGI Guidelines address two areas for Noise in Healthcare settings

• Sound Transmission Class (STC)

• Noise levels

Healthcare Construction Certificate - Level 1

Sound Transmission Class (STC) Definition

• FGI Recommends STC ratings

• STC is a rating of how well a building partition attenuates airborne sound.

• Widely used to rate interior partitions, ceilings, floors, doors, windows and exterior wall configurations.

• American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International Classification E413 – Classifications for Rating Sound Insulation and E90 – Airborne Sound Transmission Loss of Building Partitions and Elements.

Healthcare Construction Certificate - Level 1

Sound Transmission Classification (STC)

STCWhat can be heard

25 Normal speech can be understood quite easily and distinctly through wall

30 Loud speech can be understood fairly well, normal speech heard but not understood

35 Loud speech audible but not intelligible

40 Onset of "privacy"

42 Loud speech audible as a murmur

45 Loud speech not audible; 90% of statistical population not annoyed

50 Very loud sounds such as musical instruments or a stereo can be faintly heard; 99% of population not annoyed.

60+ Superior soundproofing; most sounds inaudible

Healthcare Construction Certificate - Level 1

Noise Levels for Healthcare

• WHO (World Health Organization) and US EPA recommend hospital noise be limited to 30-40 dBA (decibel) or as low as possible.

• Power tools create sound pressure levels of 110 – 125 dBA

Healthcare Construction Certificate - Level 1

dBA – Decibel Definition

A-weighted decibels, abbreviated dBA, or dB(a), are an expression of the relative loudness of sounds in air as perceived by the human ear.

Healthcare Construction Certificate - Level 1

Maximum design criteria for Hospital and Outpatient Facilities

• 2014 FGI and sound & vibration guidelines for healthcare facilities

Healthcare Construction Certificate - Level 1

Maximum design criteria for Residential Health Care and Support Facilities

• 2014 FGI and sound & vibration guidelines for healthcare facilities

Healthcare Construction Certificate - Level 1

Noise Suppression Tips

• Use a sound level meter to assess levels outside containment.

• Sound pressure levels decrease by 6 dB per doubling of distance from a source.

• If construction noise is an issue, construction containment walls which increase transmission loss (TL) – i.e., absorb noise.

• Avoid barrier leaks.

Healthcare Construction Certificate - Level 1

Distance Factors

8 ft.

4 ft.

2 ft.

68

dBA

74

dBA

80

dBA

C

o

n

t

a

i

n

m

e

n

tUse a sound level meter to measure dBA.

110 – 125 dBA

Healthcare Construction Certificate - Level 1

Wall Configuration

Healthcare Construction Certificate - Level 1

Temporary Dust Tight Partition

Insulation between

sheetrock layers to

suppress noise.

Healthcare Construction Certificate - Level 1

Vibration

• One of the most difficult issues to mitigate.

• Effects doctors, nurses and other clinical staff during delicate procedures.

• Effects patient recovery and newborns and babies.

• Evaluate the best time for the work.

• Very difficult / expensive to accurately measure.

Healthcare Construction Certificate - Level 1

Vibration - Options

• Elimination

• Reduction

• Mitigation

• Communication

Healthcare Construction Certificate - Level 1

Noise and Vibration Planning

Healthcare Construction Certificate - Level 1

HCAHPS

• Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems

• CMS requires: Patient Satisfaction Survey

• During this hospital stay, how often was the area around your room quiet at night?

• Looking for: “Always” answers

• Percent of “Always” answers determines reimbursement

Healthcare Construction Certificate - Level 1

Questions?