Sondrex Units at Lakeland Are Music to Patients' Ears
Nurses & patients benefit from portable music & communication system

September 28, 2001 –When Lakeland Regional Health System's Director of Surgery Caren Safstrom was first introduced to the Sondrex System™, a portable music and communication system, she was convinced that it would provide great benefits to the hospital's surgical patients. In late July, 25 units were purchased as part of a Lakeland-wide initiative to implement and sustain a healing environment.

The Sondrex System was developed by Healing HealthCare Systems for patients undergoing surgery, conscious-sedation procedures, chemotherapy, and other medical procedures. It is the first music delivery system designed for the clinical environment that provides for patient-physician communication important during certain diagnostic or surgical procedures. Through an onboard microphone, the health card provider is able to communicate with the patient without having to remove the headphones, interrupt the music, or otherwise disturb the patient.

Both Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph, MI, and Lakeland Hospital in Niles, MI, are incorporating the system into their patient care protocols. It is available for all surgical and endoscopic patients, and has been used daily. "As word gets out about the system, the usage continues to increase," says Bonnie Miller, Surgical Product Specialist at Lakeland Hospital, St. Joseph.

"The music was wonderful," reported Jane Wilson, a recent patient at Lakeland Hospital, St. Joseph. "I didn't like the idea of being semi-conscious during my surgery, but the music really helped me relax and took my mind off of what was happening."

Research from as early as 1949 shows that patients are able to hear while under sedation or anesthesia. Exposure to mechanic sounds and the procedural dialogue and conversation between health professionals can cause anxiety and increase stress in patients undergoing conscious-sedation procedures, pre- and post-operative anesthesia induction and recovery. Patient stress levels, in turn, affect the amount of medication needed to achieve adequate sedation, which may also impact the recovery process.

The Sondrex System combines a personal compact disc system, which can play relaxing music available from Lakeland or a personal CD of the patient's, with sound-insulating headphones. For patients who are hearing impaired the system can be customized so that they can hear effortlessly without their hearing aids.

"For the patient undergoing any kind of invasive medical procedure, the clinical environment can be frightening," says Susan Mazer, president and co-founder of Healing HealthCare Systems. "The staff needs a stimulating environment, while the patient needs the opposite. We developed the Sondrex System to accommodate these diverse needs, supporting the clear and intentional communication between clinician and patient."

Founded in 1992, Healing HealthCare Systems is committed to developing media products and educational programs that assist healthcare organizations in creating and sustaining clinical environments that are directly supportive of healing and recovery.

Lakeland Regional Health System is a community-owned, not-for-profit health care system located in southwest Michigan. Lakeland includes two acute-care hospitals, a specialty hospital, long-term care facilities, an assisted living community and a number of outpatient centers servicing a tri-county area.

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