CARE Channel now offered at Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital

Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital announced the launch of CARE Channel, a patient television channel meant to take the hospital’s soothing atmosphere to a new level.

“Recognizing that overall wellness is an integral part of the healing process, we are moving away from the traditional clinical setting to a more holistic, relaxing atmosphere,” said Kimberly Nagy, Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital’s chief nursing officer.

“The CARE Channel is an important step in that direction as we continue to focus on every aspect of our patients’ well-beings.”

Throughout the last year, the hospital has implemented new programs and amenities aimed at increasing patient comfort and wellness, including personalized attention during hourly nursing rounds and increased social work services and support groups.

Additional improvements to NLFH campuses include private postoperative day surgery recovery rooms with soothing earth tones, flat screen televisions and healing gardens.

The CARE Channel serves as an environmental tool to enhance and promote healing by combining images of nature and soothing instrumental music. Research and patient satisfaction data have shown that soothing sounds can impact clinical results.

Laurence Quall, RN, initially researched the program and the value it brings to a patient care environment as part of her professional development project.

The professional development program at NLFH serves as the vehicle for direct care nurses to advance processes that will enhance the patient experience and provides the nurse with peer recognition as a nursing leader.

“It means a lot that I was able to bring this idea to the table, advance research outcomes and see it through to its implementation,” Quall said. “So many people worked hard to make this happen, and the program has already had an extremely positive effect on patients. I am fortunate to be a part of it.”

First developed in 1992, The CARE Channel is now provided in hospitals in 48 states.

Hospitals using this system have reported reductions in the use of pain medication and restraints and improved quality of rest for patients. They have also noticed a decrease in the level of noise on the units and an increase in patient and staff satisfaction due to lower stress levels.

To find out more about the CARE Channel, visit healinghealth.com.