Sound Masking in a Health Care Unit

Sound Masking is a method used to cover-up unwanted sounds that may cause distractions. This is a method of introducing an electronically produced sound, which evenly distributes all through the space to overcome the sound that can either be blocked or absorbed by any other means. Sound masking adds both the natural and artificial sounds and noise into an environment reducing the pre-existing sounds to create a comfortable and ambient environment in a public or a private place.

Importance of sound masking in a health care environment:

Confidentiality is a significant factor in a Health care Environment. The health care industry is already preoccupied with many other important issues other than acoustics, the scientific study of sound and its transmission. Yet, these issues are frequently essential for the smooth functioning and efficiency of such facilities.

Further, according to Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) the patient confidentiality should be assured and this even includes oral communication. A patients' care and their medical records are supposed to be confidential. In a hospital, it is common for the health care providers and staff members to discuss the needs and records of the patients. However, by chance in the hearing, distance is more likely to notice these conversations and even can purposely eaves drop to find out the confidential information. It is important for any Health care facility to ensure that this information is over-heard neither unintentionally nor deliberately. Installation of sound masking equipment ensures to protect a patient's confidentiality and creates an ambient work environment.

Studies have even shown that the distractions of noises affect the rest and recovery of the patients and that it perfection becomes impossible in the hospitals. The needed restful sleep of the patients is disturbed at a nurse's station by the slightest subdued conversations. In fact, in many patient satisfaction surveys noise frequently leads the list of negatives. Sound Masking can neutralize most of these distractions. Offices of the doctors, human resources representatives and insurance service call centers can take the advantage of sound masking.

How does sound masking work?

In an intent given background noise in a room, the other noises or conversations that are taking place are not easy to conclude one noise from the other. This is called white noise. This is the situation where you can hear the sound but you will not be able to separate each sound correctly so that you can ensure what you are hearing actually. For example, if you are running water in the sink and at the same time you trying to talk to someone in the next room. You can hear that your conversational partner is speaking, but you cannot make out exactly what he is telling you. This is because the running water has raised the noise floor in your area. The noise floor is the level of constant sound present in a space, which should be in the range of 42 to 48 decibels. If it is too high, you will feel irritated, or if it is too low, you can overhear conversations and noises. Sound masking creates a noise floor high enough to cover up the noises and low enough for the comfort.

A sound masking system consists of series of speakers installed above suspended ceilings aiming upwards that distribute an engineering background sound all through the facility. Sound masking involves installing speakers above suspended ceilings aimed upwards. This results in fewer distractions from white noise because of the increase in the spatial uniformity of the sound. This sound is same as softly blowing air.

By sound masking, you can get rid of even small sounds like the tapping of an ink pen, clicking of keyboards and other usual office noises.

Types of sound masking systems:

1. The first one being, the In-plenum sound masking system: This consists of large loudspeakers in the shape of paint can, installed above the tiles of the ceiling. In this system, sound bounces off through the ceiling tiles, from the ceiling deck into the workspace below. The sound is usually unpredictable and louder even for the same level of speech privacy. These systems should be tuned by acoustic professionals and often create hot spots in the places where the unwanted masking noise spills into unintended spaces like office area. In-plenum systems are around for many years since the 1960's.
2. The second being, the Direct-field sound masking system: This is relatively new and installed directly in the workspace avoiding any sound interference with elements above the ceiling tile. This results a quieter, less obtrusive sound that masks speech, which are at the same level as in-plenum systems. Direct-field systems require less tuning and are simpler to install than in-plenum sound masking systems. Direct field sound masking can even work with a ceiling, which does not have ceiling tiles. Sound masking emitters are arranged in to furniture or other fixtures of the hospital. Direct-field systems are the finest and latest. These are arranged into the ceiling of the hospital. An electronic mechanism hinders employee's ability to hear the private conversations of others by creating other sounds.

Sound masking can increase the productivity levels in a health care unit by 3 to 20 percent. Industry experts suggest that it can take almost ten minutes for most of the people to get back their concentration after a sound distraction. These distractions can put a patient at risk. By masking the noises in a heath care environment, the staff can pay more attention to the patients' tasks when needed. There is a chance of installing Sound masking units in a new and even in existing work places. Health care facilities should utilize Sound masking units, which create a harmonious atmosphere increasing the people's ability to concentrate, restoring the speech privacy, resulting in the increase of employee productivity and efficiency.

Sources: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/Hbase/sound/mask.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_masking