Tiffany Carpio, Interim Director of Nursing, Wellstar Cobb Hospital, explains how immersive audio technology will help expecting moms at Wellstar Cobb Hospital Labor & Delivery.
Tiffany also shares more details on what patients can expect out of this immersive audio technology.
Sound ideas to deliver better healthcare experiences
Throughout pregnancy, moms don’t let any detail go unchecked: they research the safest baby stroller, buy the crib they fell in love with and pick that special color for the nursery.
It’s a journey, and it’s natural to feel stressed or anxious at some point. We want our babies to have the best start possible, but sometimes, all the planning, thinking and deciding can take a toll.
That’s why we partnered with Spatial Inc., an award-winning immersive sound company known for its unique experiences in retail, hotels, museums and offices. Our partnership started with experiences for our team members, and this next step will take the healing power of sound to the Labor & Delivery unit at Wellstar Cobb Hospital.
Since January 2022, team members have enjoyed a variety of soundscapes produced by Spatial that feature a low-frequency pulse to relax the nervous system. Speakers strategically located throughout the rooms help create an immersive environment away from the workday’s stress.
Burnout had been a problem before the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting 35 to 45 percent of nurses and 40 to 54 percent of physicians, according to a National Academy of Medicine study. The pandemic compounded an existing problem. A survey with more than 1,100 health workers between June and September 2020 revealed that 93 percent were feeling stress and 86 percent anxiety. Of these, 76 percent reported exhaustion and burnout (Mental Health America).
Howard Rose, head of Health and Wellness at Spatial, reminded us of the primal function our sense of sound performs, and how the multiple hospital alarms can take a toll on team members.
“While we can shut our eyes off, there’s no way to close our ears,” he said.
The effect of the Wellness Rooms has been profound. Over 5,000 team members have used them, with 95 percent reporting a positive mental impact. This success encouraged us to take this experience to patients.
At the Wellstar Cobb Labor & Delivery unit, we’re using Spatial sound technology in a safe and controlled study to collect data to improve the birthing experience for moms across Wellstar. Participants in the study can experience the soothing effects of these soundscapes, ranging from deep sea exploration to an early morning in a rainforest, all customizable to individual preferences.
These sounds will help patients relax, breathe and enjoy guided meditation so that they can feel their best before birth. Expecting moms can rest assured that the big day will be just as they dreamed about, without stress or tension taking away the magic of this life-changing moment.
If the project continues to prove as successful as it has been in our Wellness Rooms, this system could be expanded to other patient-facing areas of the hospital. Where would you like to see sound technology go next? Complete our latest survey to let us know how to improve this experience for everyone.
