Shhhh…Mercy Incorporates Quiet Time
into Patients’ Daily Routine
To help foster a hospital-wide environment that promotes rest and relaxation, Mercy Medical Center, 701 10th St. SE, is implementing “Quiet Time” in all inpatient departments, except for Behavioral and Intensive Care, starting Tuesday, September 5, 2006, from 1-2 p.m. daily. During this hour, staff will not disturb patients with nonessential, routine care.
Coupled with Mercy’s ongoing efforts to provide all patients with private rooms, the Quiet Time initiative further promotes a healing environment.
Mercy’s Pulmonary Medicine Center implemented the first, successful Quiet Time initiative in February. After it was trialed for several months, both patients and staff developed an appreciation for the time set aside for peace and quiet each day. The change also comes as the result of Mercy’s participation in the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s Transforming Medical- Surgical Care initiative.
“Along with the constant care we provide, we need to take time out to let patients rest as part of the healing process. The positive feedback we received from our initial Quiet Time trial demonstrates the hospital-wide value of this IHI initiative,” said Carol Watson, Senior Vice President of Clinical Services at Mercy Medical Center.
Patient comments from recent Press Ganey health care satisfaction surveys include:
- “I like Quiet Time between 1-2 p.m.; it makes it easy to nap.”
- “I really enjoy Quiet Time.”
- “You need to have Quiet Time on all the floors.”
Mercy’s new Quiet Time procedure will encourage all patients to participate in the hour of rest and relaxation between 1-2 p.m. daily. During Quiet Time, patient activities will be limited (as treatment allows) to promote rest. However, physician rounds, essential therapy, treatment and tests, admissions, surgical arrivals/departures, and emergency announcements will continue to take place. Patients are also free to call nursing staff for needs during Quiet Time. In short, essential medical care will continue to be delivered as necessary.
As a result of the newly initiated Quiet Time, however, routine care, housekeeping, non-emergency overhead announcements and drills, loud construction/maintenance noise and gift shop deliveries will not take place between 1-2 p.m.
Mercy will post Quiet Time signs in patient rooms and in entrances and public hallways. Visitors will be encouraged to participate in Quiet Time while respecting the right to remain at a patient’s bedside. Staff will also close half of the double entrance doors to patient care departments, dim department lights, lower blinds in patient rooms and take other various actions to support Quiet Time.
This hospital-wide interdisciplinary change incorporates an initiative that has been very successful at other hospitals participating in IHI’s Transforming Care Innovation. Through a team effort recognizing the importance of rest and relaxation in the healing process, the Quiet Time initiative is designed to enhance patient-centered care.
Annual Report