Advances in medical technology have led to an increase in noise levels in hospitals. The Boston VA Healthcare System proposed a project aimed at decreasing noise levels throughout their hospital branches. The design team studied and analyzed noise levels associated with alarms and gained a better understanding of the term "alarm fatigue" which is an annoyance for visitors, patients and healthcare providers. By also monitoring the noise levels in patient rooms and using software data analysis techniques, we showed that noise levels as a function of location and time of day at the VA hospital exceeded the noise tolerance guidelines by the World Health Organization. Recommendations of new technology and policy to reduce noise levels at the VA hospital were made.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Hanna, Tyler Stephen
• Mello, Brad Clayton
• Gagnon, Matthew Robert
• Pinette, William John

Subject

• Security
• Health
• Computing
• Well-Being

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042213-163137

Keyword

• Noise pollution
• Medical care

Advisor

• Cotnoir, Paul David
• Fofana, Mustapha S.

Year

• 2012

Sponsor

• West Roxbury, Massachsetts Veterans Affairs Hospital

Date created

• 2012-04-12

Resource type

• Interactive Qualifying Project

Rights statement

• In Copyright