C.A.R.E. Insights Blog

Thoughts on the Environment of Care

This blog explores how the environment of care influences the patient's experience and staff well-being, with a focus on how sound, visual atmosphere, pacing, and sensory load shape healing and outcomes in healthcare settings. Topics include patient safety and satisfaction, hospital noise, nurse wellness, HCAHPS, sleep, and much more. Our goal is to share practical insights to help you create environments that heal.

Addressing Hospital Noise: How to Create a Sound Quality Committee

August 1, 2014

Creating a Sound Quality Committee is one of the best strategies to address hospital noise. It’s also a good way to put accountability for the sound environment on those who

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Reducing Hospital Noise: What Do We Do First?

May 16, 2014

Last week I did a webinar for The Center for Health Design on the built environment, patient outcomes, and hospital noise. I spoke about the two-part patient experience in relationship

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Patients, Privacy, and Hospital Noise

December 13, 2013

I have been writing and speaking about hospital noise and patient privacy for more years than I care to remember and have come to the conclusion that no matter how

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Good Sounds, Bad Sounds: What Matters for Hospital Noise

June 28, 2013

You may have seen the article in the Wall St. Journal a couple of weeks ago on hospital noise. Instead of focusing on sounds that are too loud, annoying, and

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2012 Resolution: Create a Quiet Hospital

January 17, 2012

As we begin 2012, it would be stunning to actually have NEW resolutions. I say this because as we look to healthcare challenges, few of them are new: insufficient access

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Auditory Environment in Hospitals Shown to be a Risk Factor

October 28, 2011

October is stunning. The complexity of the fall colors is breathtaking. And at some point in November, a good wind will come and blow all of these leaves to the

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