Dignity Health has helped raise its patient satisfaction scores with the development of a Quiet Kit that gives patients more control over their environment, according to an article on the Health Facilities Management website.

The kit includes ear plugs, an eye mask, lip balm, a puzzle book, a 'quiet please' door hanger and a healthcare booklet.

St. John's Regional Medical Center, Oxnard, Calif., was the first Dignity hospital to try the kit. St. John's also gave nurses hands-free communication devices, eliminating overhead pages and muting motorized floor cleaning equipment. 

The focus on reducing noise helped raise St. John's performance standing within Dignity from 15th to third and also boosting its HCAHPS and patient recommendation scores, according to the article.

The kit also gave environmental services staff, who distributed the kits with clinical staff, an opportunity to become more directly involved with patient care.

Read the article.