SPECIAL REPORT: REDUCING NOISE POLLUTION IN THE OPERATING ROOM
Foreword H
ospitals take every care to ensure the safest
also cost money which health services can ill afford.
possible environment for staff and patients,
Errors in the operating room contribute to rising
but there is one area which is often overlooked
litigation which is putting the financial sustainability
- noise. In the modern operating threatre, noise
of health services at risk.
regularly exceeds recommended safe levels and puts staff and patients at risk.
For many reasons, therefore, noise pollution in the Operating Room should be treated as a major issue.
Our opening article comes from Medela Healthcare
In our final article, James Butler looks at some of the
who are leaders in the drive to produce quieter
latest noise reduction strategies which address the
equipment. They highlight how noise pollution has
problem, including staff education and ear protection.
become a serious health and safety hazard for
However, the biggest cause of serious noise pollution
surgeons, staff and patients.
is equipment. Addressing this issue with new, quieter,
Elsewhere in the Report, we look more deeply
devices will be crucial.
at the impact of noise pollution within the surgical
Technology is always moving forward. In the case of
environment. Increased noise adds to feelings of
noise pollution, it is both the cause and the solution of
anxiety and leaves medical staff feeling fatigued.
the problem. It is the reason why noise often exceeds
Worst of all, it creates distractions, making it difficult
safe levels, but it also holds the key to producing a
to communicate and increasing the risk of error.
quieter environment in the future.
The human impact is severe, but as Jo Roth discovers, the financial implications should not be underestimated. The biggest concern is obviously the risk to patient health, but Operating Room mistakes
Tom Cropper Editor
Tom Cropper has produced articles and reports on various aspects of global business over the past 15 years. He has also worked as a copywriter for some of the largest corporations in the world, including ANZ Bank, ING and KPMG.
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