Just as young schoolchildren require daily naps to rejuvenate, so do patients recovering from surgery and illness, says a unit director at Avera Queen of Peace Hospital.
Thus the hospital's new program -- Quiet Time for Healing, which was unveiled last month and which hospital officials say has been a welcome change among patients.
"The patients are enjoying (the quiet time) because the most frequent thing you hear is 'someone is in here all the time,' " said Jodi Doering, director of medical/ICU/swing bed at the hospital and implementer of the plan.
"The main concept was people are brought to the hospital when they are sick and medical staff 'bugs' them non-stop. By having one quiet, dark, uninterrupted hour, we hope this would help in healing."
On Sept. 15, the hospital decided to implement the program on a trial basis for the medical floor only. From 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. every day, hospital staff members dim the lights in the rooms and hallways to nearly dark for one hour of silence for patients and staff.
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During that time, hospital workers have time to catch up on charting and other miscellaneous paperwork while patients have the luxury of not being disturbed by medical staff for 60 minutes. Other departments -- such as physical therapy, dietary staff and chaplains at the hospital -- are required to work around this time so as not to trouble the patients.
"We don't stop functioning as a hospital. We just try to limit bothering the patients," said Doering. "We don't want to lose our common sense in providing health care.
"The main benefit is an emotional healing and a quietness and calmness that you don't normally see in a hospital because it is such a high-stress environment, for patients and staff both."
Although this time is reserved for resting, patients do not have to participate and are allowed to chat with visitors or watch television. The hospital staff only requests volume levels be held to a minimum so not to disturb those patients wishing to adhere to the silence.
After the one-month trial period, Doering said it's hoped the new quiet time will be implemented on all floors of the hospital.
Trish Delaney, hospital vice-president of marketing, said she has not heard any negative feedback about the new program, saying staff and patients seem to consider it a success.
Other departments were jealous once the medical floor began the trial program, she said.
"Bottom line is that the staff has patience and want to do what is best for the patients at the hospital," said Delaney. "I'm very proud of our staff and that they are always looking for ways to improve our patients' experience."
