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The White Noise Project
Share PrintSimple, effective, and safe white noise machines are being distributed to hospitals around the country as an adjunct to sleep and providing privacy and comfort to veterans in the hospital setting. Our collected data has demonstrated 15% increases in sleep hours and 97% patient satisfaction ratings for use.
Origin:
August 2019, Charles George Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (Asheville)
Adoptions:
11 successful
Awards and Recognition:
iNET Seed Investee, iNet Spark Award Investee, iNET Spread Investee, Diffusion of Excellence Promising Practice, VHA Shark Tank Winner
Recent Updates
Overview
Problem
We wanted to increase sleep and decrease anxiety in the hospital setting with a holistic approach. We wanted a solution that could be used in any hospital or patient-adjacent setting, was non-pharmacological, inclusive, and safe for patients of various ages and diagnoses. We were also noticing many veterans reporting they use white noise at home either passi
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We wanted to increase sleep and decrease anxiety in the hospital setting with a holistic approach. We wanted a solution that could be used in any hospital or patient-adjacent setting, was non-pharmacological, inclusive, and safe for patients of various ages and diagnoses. We were also noticing many veterans reporting they use white noise at home either passively (ceiling fans, A/C units, etc.), or actively via their phones or home devices.
See
more
Links
- "The need for sleep has long been assumed to be important for recovery from injury and sickness, and there is an emerging understanding of the restorative role of sleep in health and disease. Unfortunately, the hospital environment is often poorly conducive to sleep [1,2]. Pain, anxiety, medication effects, medical interventions, environmental noise and light, and the acute illness itself all contribute to decreased quality and quantity of sleep in hospitalized patients. As a result, issues related to sleep and sleep disorders are important to inpatient care." Poor Sleep in the Hospital
- Sleep in the hospital is a complex and multi-faceted issue, but environmental changes are a step in the right direction. "Additionally, environmental modifications... could be easily adopted in the care environment and may support sleep improvement. More rigorous research in nonpharmacological sleep interventions for hospitalized individuals is required to inform clinical recommendations." Sleepless in the hospital: A systematic review of non-pharmacological sleep interventions
Solution
Our specific white noise machines were chosen for their portability, environmental friendliness, ease of use for veterans and staff members, safe design, and their affordability. They require no specialized training to implement, only a simple class providing general guidelines to inform staff.
Our vision is to promote recovery, health, and well-being for ... Our specific white noise machines were chosen for their portability, environmental friendliness, ease of use for veterans and staff members, safe design, and their affordability. They require no specialized training to implement, only a simple class providing general guidelines to inform staff.
Our vision is to promote recovery, health, and well-being for veterans.
Our mission is to facilitate quality rest by empowering veterans with impactful tools and accessibility to holistic care. See more
Our vision is to promote recovery, health, and well-being for ... Our specific white noise machines were chosen for their portability, environmental friendliness, ease of use for veterans and staff members, safe design, and their affordability. They require no specialized training to implement, only a simple class providing general guidelines to inform staff.
Our vision is to promote recovery, health, and well-being for veterans.
Our mission is to facilitate quality rest by empowering veterans with impactful tools and accessibility to holistic care. See more
Images
Our data has been consistent for the past 3 years!
- (Public access) Implementation Guide for the White Noise Project
- (VA access) Implementation Guide for the White Noise Project
Files
Links
Results
At the Asheville VA Medical Center, data has demonstrated 20% average improvements of objectively observed sleep hours of veterans who used white noise machines when compared to veterans who did not utilize the machines. Veterans interviewed post machine use have reported overwhelmingly positive outcomes, with 97% (averaged) positive patient satisfaction rat
...
At the Asheville VA Medical Center, data has demonstrated 20% average improvements of objectively observed sleep hours of veterans who used white noise machines when compared to veterans who did not utilize the machines. Veterans interviewed post machine use have reported overwhelmingly positive outcomes, with 97% (averaged) positive patient satisfaction ratings.
See
more
Images
Quantitative sleep hours of 2021
Metrics
- 20% Improved Sleep Hours (approximately 1.5 hours gained)
- 97% of veterans report positive outcomes when using white noise machines
Diffusion tracker
Does not include Clinical Resource Hubs (CRH)
Multimedia
Images
Krys Earles, presenting the white noise project to the 2022 shark tank competition.
Implementation
Timeline
-
Q1
Spread sites have approvals for machines, logistics, ordering, and funding is completed, and staff champions are trained on machine use and data collection. -
Q2
Machines arrive at facilities, and implementation of the project begins. -
Q3 & Q4
Quarterly check ins with sites occur, the project is collecting data and, if applicable, continuing to spread to other units/floors of the site.
Departments
- Mental health care
- Nursing services
- Internal medicine
- Intensive care unit
- Whole health
Core Resources
| Resource type | Resource description |
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PEOPLE |
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PROCESSES |
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TOOLS |
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Support Resources
| Resource type | Resource description |
|---|---|
PEOPLE |
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PROCESSES |
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TOOLS |
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Risks and mitigations
| Risk | Mitigation |
|---|---|
| Machines potentially used incorrectly by acute crisis patients | Training includes exclusionary criteria and considerations for issuing machines to veterans in crisis. |
Contact
Comment
Comments and replies are disabled for retired innovations and non-VA users.
Email krys.earles@va.gov with questions about this innovation.
About
Origin story
In early 2019 an idea for consideration grew into a national project. A humble suggestion to try white noise in the hospital setting led to enrollment in the spark, seed, spread program and the innovator's network funding data that has been shared across the nation.
Original team
Krys Earles
RN, BSN, National Project Lead
Nora Holmes
Innovation Specialist for Asheville
We are looking to implement this system at Jesse Brown VA in Chicago. We have acquired the necessary machines, but before distributing them to the inpatient rooms, we have a few questions:
-Are these devices placed in all inpatient rooms at your facility?
-Do you allow veterans to take them home upon discharge?
-If not, could you please provide the cleaning instructions followed by EMS for these devices?
We are considering placing a device in every inpatient room and would appreciate any guidance or best practices you can share.
Thank you for your assistance.
Rayvon.Bufkin@va.gov
Howdy and thanks for the questions! In Asheville, we have this Available for every Veteran at our facilities but they are not installed in each inpatient room. We currently assign them to veterans to take home as we have quite a lot of machines, but on the MH unit they sign them out at night and return them in the AM. Our cleaning instructions are the same as every electronic device--cavi-wipes, which was approved by IP here and the manufacturer. Hope this helps and feel free to reach out to me on teams (Krys Earles) if you have any further questions.
I think this program is an outstanding idea! I am an RN on an Acute Inpatient Unit in Buffalo NY. I currently work the night shift and this program speaks to not only to me, but the beloved veterans that can not get the proper amount and quality of sleep they require for one or more reasons. I would appreciate the contact information for the Buffalo VA location. If there is no one available and you need assistance in my location, I would be more than willing to help in any way possible!
Please tell me who is the point of contact for implementation of this program at the Biloxi Mississippi VA. I am an RN on the Acute Inpatient Mental Unit and am very interested in helping with this in any way! Thank You!
Kendall Lunsford, MSN, RN Kendall.Lunsford@va.gov 228-523-5758
kendalp@att.net cell: 228-324-9357