The document discusses the problem of "alarm fatigue" in hospitals, where the large number and volume of alarms has increased drastically over time. It notes that 80-99% of alarms are false or clinically insignificant. Alarm hazards were ranked the number one health technology hazard in 2014 by ECRI, and the FDA identified 862 alarm-related deaths over 7 years. The document proposes applying principles of "Sonic Humanism" to improve alarm design through standardizing sounds, prioritizing alarms, controlling volume intelligently, and designing sounds that precisely communicate urgency without being annoying. It suggests curating music and ambient sounds could also positively impact patients and staff. The document outlines 5 "Design Truths" for applying sound design effectively in

1. The Sonic Boom
The Sound of Healthcare
April 11th, 2015
#HealthHack2015@joelbeckerman

3. Sonic Humanism
The strategic use of music and sound
to benefit people
(Life Sciences / Social Sciences / Design Thinking)

8. Alarm Fatigue

9. “Although studies show it is difficult for humans to
differentiate among more than 6 different alarm sounds,
the average number of alarms in an ICU has increased
from 6 in 1983 to more than 40 different alarms in 2011.
In addition, 80% to 99% of electrocardiographic monitor
alarms are false or clinically insignificant.”
American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN):

10. Decibels
1. Refs - JD?
30
40
50
60
70
80
WHO RECOMMENDED (35 dB)
1960
DECIBELS
TIME
2015
NIGHTTIME
DAYTIME

11. The Sonic Boom
Alarm hazards ranked number one
on the 2014 Emergency Care Research Institute (ECRI)
Top 10 Health Technology Hazards
19 out of 20 hospitals rank alarm as a top concern

12. The FDA identified 862 alarm-related
deaths in a recent 7-year period.
1. http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/feature/wp/2013/07/07/too-much-noise-from-hospital-alarms-poses-risk-for-patients/

13. Alarm Fatigue: The Problems
• Volume of alarms
• Number of alarms
• Inconsistent in meaning
• Frequency
• Acoustic properties of hospital spaces
• Devices that are unaware of each other

14. Other Sonic Opportunities in Healthcare

15. Sonification of Data

18. Sonic in Mobile Healthcare

20. Sonic Curation for Patients

22. Sonic Humanism: Design Truths

23. WHAT IF…
• Sound was used more efficiently to illicit a response in emergency
circumstances?
• Sound was designed to improve response times?
• Sound could prioritize concerns quickly and intuitively?
Truth #1
You react to sound first,
before any other sense registers. Even Touch.

24. WHAT IF…
• Sound was used more efficiently to illicit a response in emergency
circumstances?
• Sound was designed to improve response times?
• Sound could prioritize concerns quickly and intuitively?
Truth #1
You react to sound first,
before any other sense registers. Even Touch.

25. WHAT IF…
Truth #2
You can only understand a limited number of
sounds at one time. Three.
• We re-consider alarm priorities and frequency of how often they
sound?
• There was a standardized system of sound across devices and
platforms?
• Alarms/alerts were controlled by "smart" algorithms to grade volume
and intensity according to urgency
• Devices knew the state of other devices and understood the hierarchy
of priority?

26. Truth #3
Sound provides emotional context
for every communication

28. Truth #3
Sound provides emotional context
for every communication
• Alarms more precisely communicated urgency?
• Sounds alerted but didn’t annoy?
• We considered how curated music or ambiance affect the mood of patients
and staff in a positive way?
• Sound/music could play a role in Mental Health, one of Intrahealth’s top 10
health concerns of 2015?
• Sound/music could meaningfully contribute to mobile health and global
health surveillance?
WHAT IF…

29. Truth #4
sound opportunities exist both inside and outside
the human vocal range
• We redesigned alarms accordingly?
• We reconsidered the design of mobile health information in devices?
WHAT IF…

30. Truth #5
Silence is sonic design white space
• We reconsidered the sound in healthcare environments, pledging to
trash the Sonic Trash.
• We redesigned hospital acoustics with sound attenuating materials?
• We reconsidered where alarms were positioned in relation to the
patient?
• We utilized current sound directive technology to direct sound away
from patients?
WHAT IF…

31. Sonic Humanism: Design Truths
1. You hear sound before any other sense registers
2. You can only register the meaning and intent of a limited
number of sounds at one time
3. Sound can provide emotional context for communication
4. Sound can occur inside and outside the human vocal
range
5. Silence in sonic white space

32. Thank you!
#HealthHack2015@joelbeckerman