The only thing that will be heard walking through the halls of the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in the afternoon is silence.

The UIHC introduced the Quiet Campaign on March 15. The campaign aims to positively impact the patients experiences by making it easier for them to recover through designated quiet hours.

The initiative requires quiet times throughout the hospital from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. every day. This hour and a half of silence will allow patients to rest easier and create a more professional atmosphere for the hospital staff.

Emily Wynn, the interim director of clinical functions, said the UIHC identified quietness as an opportunity for improvement through survey results.

“Over the past six months, a group at the hospital has begun to implement interventions that we believe will have great success in helping us improve quietness,” she said.

Wynn said these include posters on the campaign, standardized quiet times, alarm management education, implementing a Quiet TV Channel, and encouraging staff to hold each other accountable in maintaining lowered voices and having group conversations in workroom areas.

Shannon Hunger, a nurse at UIHC, said the campaign is centered around patient well-being.

“The HUSH Campaign is one example of our patient-centered approach to providing quality-driven healthcare,” she said.

Grace Matthews, a nurse leader, said the Quiet Campaign will help staff and patients understand how noise affects healing.

“Each unit has posters with pictures of staff who are the ‘Quiet Champions.’ By utilizing the nursing and medical staff, posters are fun to see and bring the initiative closer to home,” Matthews said.

Nick Weime, assistant director of environmental and guest services at UIHC, said that the Quiet Campaign is yet another example of the high-quality environment the hospital staff tries to create for their patients.