Visits to the veterinarian are stressful for any four-legged animal. As awareness of animal welfare grows, more and more veterinary clinics are innovating solutions that not only change the way pets are treated, but also redefine the in-office experience. In an era where acoustic comfort is becoming a key component of recovery, veterinary facilities are beginning to combat noise by prioritizing the quality of care that is now also provided by the details of the environment.
Such an example is the new 24-hour referral veterinary clinic Veterio, part of the LuxVet group, which recently opened its doors to four-legged patients on Taśmowa Street in Warsaw. With an area of more than 2,000 sq m, it focuses on the comfort of both its patients and staff. High-quality technology and advanced operating rooms are integrated here with attention to acoustics. The use of sound-absorbing materials significantly reduces noise levels, which is crucial for animal health and welfare.
Ecophon at the Veterio clinic
photo by Bartosz Makowski
Importance of acoustics in veterinary medicine
A certain level of noise in veterinary clinics is unavoidable - animal noises, conversations of owners, doctors and sounds of equipment operation can increase stress levels in four-legged patients, and this leads to serious diseases much more intensely than in humans.
Ecophon at the Veterio clinic
Photo by Bartosz Makowski
Stress can affect animals' immune systems, which in turn increases the risk of various diseases. When animals are exposed to prolonged stress, their bodies produce hormones, such as cortisol, which can weaken the immune response. This lowering of immunity can lead to greater susceptibility to infection, viral or bacterial diseases, and can result in prolonged illness and recovery for hospitalized animals. This is why it is so important to take care of the mental and physical well-being of animals by minimizing stress factors in their environment
- says Rafal Boroń, a veterinarian at the newly opened facility.
Monika Sadlowska, an expert on acoustics in healthcare facilities from Ecophon Saint-Gobain, meanwhile, adds that even the law protects animals in this regard. The current regulation [1], indicates that noise levels in animal rooms should not exceed 60 dB. Modern clinics are therefore increasingly introducing innovative solutions to help meet these standards, creating an environment conducive to recovery.
Ecophon in the Veterio clinic
photo by Bartosz Makowski
Working under pressure and noise can lead to serious mistakes
Noise not only affects animals, but also clinic staff. Veterinary doctors and technicians working in noisy environments can experience fatigue and reduced concentration, which can lead to mistakes. Therefore, acoustic comfort becomes a key element for patient comfort and quality of care.
In veterinary clinics, just as in hospitals for humans, it is important to create spaces that promote concentration and reduce stress. The acoustic materials we used for this project not only reduce noise, but also fundamentally affect the overall well-being and comfort of everyone in these places. This undoubtedly has a significant impact on the quality of animal care.
- says Monika Sadlowska of Ecophon Saint-Gobain.
Ecophon at the Veterio clinic
Photo by Bartosz Makowski
One of the key places where noise reduction is particularly important is operating rooms. According to a study conducted at Hvidovre Hospital in Denmark [2], even small improvements in acoustics, significantly influenced better communication, less fatigue and higher levels of staff satisfaction. Improved speech intelligibility and reduced reverberation translate into faster and more accurate decision-making, which can be crucial in critical situations.
Investing in acoustics as part of a growth strategy
As the veterinary sector becomes increasingly competitive, investment in technologies to improve acoustic comfort is becoming not just a trend, but a necessity. Modern veterinary clinics are beginning to draw on the experience of human medicine, where acoustics play a key role in space design.
As Artur Adamiec, chief architect of Veterio Clinic, points out, the increased awareness of acoustic stress is changing the approach to the design of medical spaces.
Proper acoustics not only improves the comfort of animals, but also increases the efficiency of staff. Noise reduction is an important part of the comfort of both the animals and the people here. That is why, for example, the waiting room is a very important place.
- Artur Adamiec.
Ecophon in the Veterio clinic
photo by Bartosz Makowski
The future of veterinary medicine
The recently opened Veterio clinic is thus an example that shows that taking care of acoustics in veterinary clinics is a step towards a future in which animal welfare and staff comfort will be a priority. Investing in proper acoustics not only improves the quality of care, but also becomes a competitive element in the industry. For the rise of acoustics in veterinary medicine heralds a new era in animal care.
[1] REGULATION OF THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT of April 29, 2022 on the minimum requirements to be met by a center and the minimum requirements for the care of animals kept at the center.
[2] Internoise 2019, "Impact of acoustics on staff performance in operation rooms."
