Creative Audio Solutions in Medical and Hospital Settings
Hospitals and medical facilities are designed to heal, but noise, shared spaces, and sensory overload can often work against that goal. From patient rooms to infusion suites to pediatric care environments, Holosonics’ Audio Spotlight technology is helping healthcare providers rethink how sound is delivered. By precisely directing audio only where it is needed, these facilities are creating calmer, more personalized, and more human-centered experiences for patients, families, and staff. Below are three examples that show just how creative audio can make a meaningful difference in medical settings.
Mission Health Hospital
Focused sound that protects rest and recovery
At Mission Health Hospital’s North Tower, Audio Spotlight technology was deployed at scale to solve a familiar problem: how to allow visitors to watch TV without disturbing patients who need rest. More than 200 directional speakers were installed in patient rooms, seamlessly replacing ceiling tiles above guest seating areas. The result is highly focused sound that can be heard clearly by visitors, while patients just inches away experience near silence.
Beyond patient rooms, Audio Spotlight speakers were also installed at nursing stations within the hospital’s open-concept Central Monitoring Unit. Here, the technology delivers critical alerts directly to individual staff members without audio bleeding into adjacent stations. In both applications, Mission Health used directional sound to reduce noise, support healing, and create a more functional environment for care.
Samueli Integrative Health Institute
Personalized, touch-free audio for infusion therapy
In the Infusion Suite at the Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute, Audio Spotlight speakers were installed above each patient chair to create a personalized audio experience during treatment. Patients can listen to their own music or audio content without disturbing others, or choose complete quiet if they prefer. The focused sound supports SSIHI’s mission of individualized, patient-centered care.
Equally important is the touch-free, tetherless design. By eliminating shared headphones, the system reduces sanitation demands and supports a more hygienic environment. Simple Bluetooth connectivity allows patients to control their audio directly from their own devices, all while maintaining a clean, uncluttered aesthetic that contributes to a calm and restorative space.
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
Turning sound into play and imagination
At Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Audio Spotlight speakers were used in a very different, but equally impactful way. As part of a renovation designed to make the hospital feel less intimidating for young patients, directional speakers with custom printed fabric were incorporated into an interactive audio scavenger hunt.
By pairing visuals and sound, the installation invites children into a playful, imaginative experience that draws attention away from medical anxiety. Instead of a sterile environment, young patients encounter discovery and storytelling. It is a creative use of audio that helps transform the emotional experience of a hospital visit, proving that sound can do more than inform. It can comfort and delight.
Centene
Engaging Visitors with Directional Audio and Digital Storytelling
An experiential digital installation in Centene’s corporate lobby brings the organization’s story to life while reflecting its mission of improving individual health. A large format LED display is divided into three interactive zones that represent Centene’s origins, impact, and future vision through responsive motion graphics.
Central to the experience is the use of Audio Spotlight directional speakers. Precisely focused sound delivers curated content to specific areas, allowing individuals to engage with the story without overwhelming the surrounding space. This approach creates moments of intimacy within a large public environment.
By pairing targeted audio with dynamic visuals, the installation guides attention, enhances storytelling, and reinforces Centene’s focus on individual care, demonstrating how directional sound can transform a lobby into a meaningful narrative experience.
A MORE THOUGHTFUL WAY TO USE SOUND IN HEALTHCARE
From quieting patient rooms, to personalizing treatment experiences, to creating moments of joy for children, these installations show how directional audio can solve very different challenges within medical environments. Each project reflects a thoughtful approach to sound that respects the needs of patients, visitors, and staff alike.