The signal is clear: It's noisy in the emergency department

EDs are noisy and the noise levels exceed regulatory recommendations. Noise distracts us during any task and can saturate our attentional demand and impair our thinking and decision-making. This is a systematic problem that is consistently ignored by accreditation bodies. Many of our patients are vulnerable to the adverse impact of noise including the elderly, people with mental health problems, migraine and those with sensory impairments. Our noise levels are equivalent to a noisy restaurant. When noise levels are reduced, staff report less stress and better work conditions. Noise is a patient safety issue, as excessive noise impairs good communication, which is essential for patient care. Good acoustic design and management is achievable, but needs to be explicitly assessed as a part of accreditation standards. This would promote wellness for both patients and staff.