In the Acute Care Hospital Setting
The acute care patient is typically in the hospital on a short-term basis, being treated for an illness, injury or recovering from surgery. The environment into which these patients are placed is critical to beginning the recovery process and increasing their level of acuity. During a hospital stay stress can be high for both the patient and family. The hospital environment can act either as a calming agent (reassuring the patient and family that much-needed care is in apparent evidence) or in contrast, can contribute to increased stress levels and fears that a poor environment may be a sign of poor care. Likewise, the environment either helps the staff deliver the quality of care to which the healthcare organization is comitted or it inhibits their efforts.
The C.A.R.E. Channel has been shown to be a third party in the caregiving process. A proven best practice is to have the television turned on to The C.A.R.E. Channel when a patient is first admitted to his room. This creates a calming environment and tends to reassure families. It also helps with the process of recovery by insulating the patient from distracting and often frightening sounds and sights during the day as well as at night.
The stress of hospital noise
The C.A.R.E. Channel provides a healing environment immediately to the patient bedside, combining peaceful scenes of nature with beautiful music that is a welcome alternative to commercial television and disturbing sounds. There are numerous studies that have documented the affect noise can have on patients in regards to healing, recovery and sleep deprivation. Patients can find comfort and respite from noise by tuning into The C.A.R.E. Channel, the only environmental programming specifically produced for the healthcare setting.
Creates veil of privacy
Many times patients can feel that their privacy is compromised during a hospital stay. The C.A.R.E. Channel offers a welcome veil of protection, allowing conversations to be enmeshed in the music in ways that third parties will not easily be able to overhear what is being said.
You can find a partial bibliography of recent studies relevant to hospital noise, the use of music, healing environments, and sleep improvement in our topical bibliography.
In addition to the Acute Care, The C.A.R.E. Channel is effective in a variety of healthcare settings:
