March 2016 - Surgical Serenity Solutions

Headphones for the patient?

Headphones for the patient undergoing surgery is a must! Why has it taken so long for the medical/surgical community to realize this? Surgeons have been using music for themselves, assuming that if the patient enjoys it, that would be nice, but not medically significant. Has there been a misunderstanding? No, I think it’s a matter of educating the patients, the doctors, and the hospital administrators. Surgeons have been choosing their preferred music in the OR for many decades now. Patients and administrators have assumed that the music would also be effective for them, especially since they would be asleep for most of that time.

But is that really the case? NO. When music is being played ambiently in the OR, through speakers on a nearby table or counter, speakers in the wall or ceiling, the patients may vaguely hear that music, but they also hear the conversations, the sounds of surgery (which might include drilling, sawing, and hammering!) and the beeping of various monitors in the OR! This is not soothing for the patient.

After over a decade of research, and patient/staff accounts, we know for sure, that when the patient puts on cordless, lightweight headphones that are pre-programmed with soothing, slow and rhythmic music, they do better. Why? Because the music that has been chosen is the ideal music to engage rhythmic entrainment and place the patient in a “sonic cocoon.” This keeps that patients heartrate and breathing synchronized to the music, and outside conversation and noises do not penetrate the patient’s consciousness.

We are excited about our new headphone model that is priced so that the hospital can GIVE each surgical patient a headphone to take home with them. Our initial efforts are focusing on hospitals that have multiple facilities around the country, but if you would like us to talk with administrators at your hospital, just let us know, and we’d be happy to set up an initial call!!

Why Headphones in Surgery?

Headphones before surgery

Have you had headphones in surgery before? This is increasingly happening in operating rooms around the world. If so, you know that today, most surgeons play their preferred music in the OR. Most of the time, they choose the music that they prefer. I’m totally in support of the surgeon having his preferred music, but rarely is this the music that the patient needs to hear.

When preparing for surgery, the patient needs slow, soothing, steady, simple textured, purely instrumental music. That is likely NOT what the surgeon will be choosing. The surgeon wants music that will help keep his energy and focus at a high level, sometimes rock and roll, sometimes upbeat jazz, sometime classical. Ir order for the best surgical outcomes, the patient needs to have headphones!

When the patient listens to their ideal music through lightweight, cordless headphones, such as the ones John has on in this photo, he can have the slow, steady, soothing music that will calm jangled nerves, stabilize breathing, blood pressure and body temperature, and decrease the need for as much anxiety medication and pain medication. It may even decrease the amount of anesthesia required, because when the patient is relaxed prior to surgery, it takes less anesthesia to put them under. And then the surgeon can have his own preferred music coming through speakers in the OR for him and for the staff to entrain with.

In addition to all the benefits for the patient and the surgeon, the hospital also benefits because in our research studies, patients who utilized the Surgical Serenity headphones had higher patient satisfaction ratings, across the board!

Another benefit is that HIPAA compliance is improved when patients are wearing the headphones in the pre-surgical area where medical staff is often discussing details of upcoming procedures with patients who are waiting in close proximity with only a curtain separating them.

To purchase the pre-programmed Surgical Serenity Headphones, click HERE.