A novel PACU design for noise reduction.

As redesign and renovation of patient care units occur, health care providers are looking to the literature and finding evidence for the importance of lowering environmental stressors. In the PACU at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, patients historically expressed dissatisfaction with excessive noise levels and frequently cited overhearing staff conversations as most troubling. Nurses found the noise stressful and wearing. When the time approached to design the new PACU, we took the opportunity to explore a unique floor plan to minimize noise and improve privacy.