To measure patients' perceptions of noise levels, Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) standardized and publicly reported survey poses a fairly simple question to patients: “During this hospital stay, how often was the area around your room quiet at night?” 

The answer can be complicated, according to an article on the FacilityCare website.

To promote healing and a sense of comfort and well-being, many departments are eliminating potential sources of noise pollution from squeaky wheels on carts to medical monitoring equipment.

When it's impossible to eliminate sound,  hospitals are often looking to camouflage. Covering up the hard aspects of voices and electronics with the addition of a rounder audio tone can make the more jarring aspects of unwanted sound disappear, the article said.

“White noise machines” can baffle the atmosphere across a space while still allowing for clear communications where desired. Now, with digital audio processing, it’s possible to tailor just the right softening tone for many different rooms, corridors and open spaces.

Read the article.