The impact of a noise reduction quality improvement project upon sound levels in the open-unit-design neonatal intensive care unit.
OBJECTIVE
To decrease measured sound levels in the neonatal intensive care unit through implementation of human factor and minor design modification strategies.


METHODS
Prospective time series. Two open-unit-design neonatal centers.


RESULTS
Implementation of a coordinated program of noise reduction strategies did not result in any measurable improvement in levels of loudness or quiet.


CONCLUSIONS
Two centers, using primarily human behavior noise reduction strategies, were unable to demonstrate measurable improvements in sound levels within the occupied open-unit-design neonatal intensive care unit.
Liu
W F
WF
Department of Neonatology, The Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida, Fort Myers, FL 33908, USA. william.liu.md@leememorial.org
D006749:Hospital Design and Construction / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000592:standards*; D009622:Noise