AUDIO COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR PATIENT AND HEALTHCARE PROVIDER

1 . An audio communication system for use between a patient receiving a healthcare service and a healthcare provider, comprising:

(a) a speaker component for providing auditory content to the patient while receiving the healthcare service,

(b) an audio component in communication with said speaker component for providing the auditory content to said speaker component, and

(c) an input controller accessible to the healthcare provider for controlling the provision of the auditory content to the patient.

2 . The audio communication system of claim 1 , further comprising a microphone component by which the healthcare provider speaks to the patient through the speaker component.

3 . The audio communication system of claim 2 , wherein said microphone component communicates directly with said audio component for conveying the voice of the healthcare provider to the patient.

4 . The audio communication system of claim 2 , wherein said microphone component communicates directly with said speaker component for conveying the voice of the healthcare provider to the patient.

5 . The audio communication system of claim 1 , wherein said input controller comprises a foot actuated switch or pedal.

6 . The audio communication system of claim 1 , wherein said input controller is disposed in communication with said speaker component for varying the volume of the auditory content provided to the patient while receiving the healthcare service.

7 . The audio communication system of claim 1 , wherein said input controller is disposed in communication with said speaker component for muting the auditory content provided to the patient while receiving the healthcare service.

8 . The audio communication system of claim 1 , wherein said input controller is disposed in communication with said audio component for varying the volume of the auditory content provided to the patient while receiving the healthcare service.

9 . The audio communication system of claim 1 , wherein said input controller is disposed in communication with said audio component for muting the auditory content provided to the patient while receiving the healthcare service.

10 . The audio communication system of claim 1 , wherein said input controller is disposed in communication with said audio component for selecting auditory content to be provided to the patient while receiving the healthcare service.

11 . The audio communication system of claim 1 , further comprising a second input controller disposed in communication with said audio component for controlling, by the patient, the provision of the auditory content.

12 . The audio communication system of claim 1 , wherein said speaker component comprises headphones for wearing by the patient.

13 . The audio communication system of claim 1 , wherein said speaker component comprises earphones for wearing by the patient.

14 . The audio communication system of claim 1 , wherein said speaker component comprises headphones for wearing by the patient.

15 . The audio communication system of claim 1 , wherein said speaker component comprises a speaker coupled to said apparatus.

16 . The audio communication system of claim 1 , wherein said speaker component comprises a speaker embedded in said apparatus.

17 . The audio communication system of claim 16 , wherein said speaker is embedded in a headrest of said apparatus.

18 . The audio communication system of claim 1 , wherein said audio component communicates wirelessly with said speaker component.

19 . The audio communication system of claim 1 , wherein said speaker component includes a wireless signal receiver for receiving signals conveying the auditory content.

20 . The audio communication system of claim 19 , wherein the wireless signal receiver comprises a radio-frequency (RF) signal receiver.

21 . The audio communication system of claim 1 , further comprising a storage component wherein a plurality of auditory content selections are stored, said storage component being disposed in communication with said audio component for providing, by the audio component, any one of said auditory content selections to said speaker component.

22 . The audio communication system of claim 21 , wherein said storage component comprises a digital jukebox.

23 . The audio communication system of claim 21 , wherein said storage component comprises a DVD jukebox.

24 . The audio communication system of claim 21 , wherein said storage component comprises computer readable medium and said audio component comprises a computer.

25 . The audio communication system of claim 1 , further comprising a second input controller disposed in communication with said audio component for controlling, by the patient, the auditory content selection that is provided by said audio component, from said storage component, to said speaker component.

26 . An audiovisual system for use in providing a healthcare service to a patient by a healthcare provider, comprising:

(a) a speaker component for providing auditory content to the patient while receiving the healthcare service,

(b) an electronic display for providing visual content to the patient while receiving the healthcare service,

(c) an audiovisual component in communication with said electronic display for providing the visual content to said electronic display and in communication with said speaker component for providing the auditory content to said speaker component in conjunction with the visual content, and

(d) an input controller accessible to the healthcare provider for controlling the provision of the auditory content to the patient.

27 . The audio communication system of claim 26 , further comprising a microphone component by which the healthcare provider speaks to the patient through the speaker component.

28 . The audio communication system of claim 26 , wherein said speaker component is coupled to said electronic display.