Presentation
HE5 - Capabilities and Limitations of a Ceiling Microphone Array to Locate Noise Sources in the Clinical Environment
DescriptionA supportive sonic hospital environment is paramount for both patients and staff. Noise has been linked to patient sleep and satisfaction as well as to staff stress, performance, and communication. Hospital soundscapes include a multitude of time-varying noise sources creating a complex sonic environment experienced by its occupants. Thus, it is important to locate any potentially ineffective noise sources to better understand perception and improve occupant outcomes. Additionally, further analysis of individual noise sources would help understand what a patient experiences beyond typically reported overall sound pressure level. Ceiling microphone arrays allow for the possibility of determining location of sound sources within a space and are commercially available. They are most commonly used for video conferencing and synchronizing cameras to the speaker through this audio detection. Due to the increase in telehealth, virtual nursing, and platforms that support patient and family video calls, these technologies are more likely to be implemented in clinical settings. This work will highlight the capabilities and limitations of measuring the location of noise sources, including simulated medical alarms, to better understand the array’s utility. Multiple simulated scenarios will be conducted to determine overall location accuracy, performance with multiple sources, and the ability to measure an individual noise source within a noisy environment. Not only will alarms be considered, the ability of determining where someone is speaking in a room will also be tested. This work would allow for exploration and optimization of where equipment is placed in a patient’s room, staff workflow in the room, and any problematic noise sources frequently occurring. Testing these limitations and capabilities will allow for future research to test noise source locations conducive to patient outcomes and better understand staff workflow. In total, a better understood soundscape will inform data driven design change.
Event Type
Poster Presentation
TimeMonday, March 254:45pm - 6:15pm CDT
LocationSalon C
Digital Health
Simulation and Education
Hospital Environments
Medical and Drug Delivery Devices
Patient Safety Research and Initiatives