The Importance of Lighting in the Medical Field

Posted by Briana Lipor on 4/8/20 9:00 AM

double exposure of success smart medical doctor working with abstract blurry bokeh  background as concept

The importance of proper medical lighting cannot be denied.

Healthcare facilities underrate the evident potential of light in healthcare. Ranging from interior design, circadian rhythm to the benefits of UV light. 

Patients entering a medical  facility are likely to not only be feeling unwell, but are also likely to be feeling tension related to their medical visit. The most obvious effect of light on humans is enabling vision and performance of visual tasks. Studies have shown that performance on visual tasks gets better as the light levels increase. Lighting in healthcare interior design can positively impact a person's health and well-being. A space where the mood is pleasant will augment the overall healing, benefit both staff and patients, from gratification to well-being. A growing number of studies have shown that lighting influences the safe and healthy environments of medical facilities. The foremost effort is to humanize the experience and make it a comfortable and restful place for patients. 

When you think about clinical practice environments that doctors, nurses and other medical professionals operate within, it is stressful. They must make quick and accurate diagnoses, plus carry out complicated procedures that dramatically affect patients' quality of life. In choosing medical office lighting, these medical professionals are being set up for their utmost performance success in every procedure they undertake. Conversely, poor medical lighting equipment can contribute to chaotic light field that is ripe for medical errors and stress for both health care professionals and patients. Lighting must allow a medical team to successfully complete their daily tasks. 

 

               Scientists and doctors at modern pharmaceutical factory

 

In addition, the right lighting solutions can help support healthy circadian rhythms, improving productivity and reducing the chances for medical professionals feeling tired or distracted. Considering the long shifts and unusual hours medical professionals face, this becomes especially important. Some studies have also shown that the appropriate medical office lighting has a profound effect on a patient's state of mind. Bright and harsh light can make patients feel apprehensive and anxious, while a more natural light source can promote a feeling of calm and comfort. 

Circadian rhythms, the biological cycles that repeat approximately every 24 hours, and the solar day have found that lighting can have a profound effect on the health of those in its glare. Inadequate or irregular light exposure can cause disruptions that are believed to manifest in a variety of health ailments. Circadian lighting recreates the beneficial effects of natural lighting. It changes automatically as the day progresses and with a gentle sunrise and a powerful daylight, the healthy circadian rhythm, energy and sleep are created. The light is based on a clinically documented lighting protocol that is adapted to diagnoses, behavior and the department needs developed by experts. 

 

                Medical team walking down hallway at the hospital

 

Today there are many uses for UV light including water purification, sewage treatment, air ventilation systems, odor control, tanning and sterilization. UV technology has become incredibly prevalent in medical facilities. Offering the benefits of purifying air using germicidal UVC technology. UV air purification systems can also lower energy costs by improving heat transfer and increasing the net cooling capacity. In addition to improving indoor air quality, UV light reduces maintenance costs by continuously cleaning. UV lamps are also used to sterilize the air in operating rooms as well as to effectively sterilize surgical equipment. 

Doctors also use UV light to treat patients with vitamin D deficiency and other kinds of skin disorders. Light therapy and phototherapy treatments involve the use of specific wavelengths of light to treat many medical conditions including mood disorders, skin disorders, such as psoriasis, eczema and Vitiligo, also acne, sleep disorders, wound healing and photodynamic therapy. Even in the case of Seasonal Affective Disorder, full spectrum light therapy is now considered the most effective treatment and most of the time people experience a marked improvement as quickly as a week. 

The importance of proper medical lighting applications cannot be denied. Much of these applications success is based on a successful reflector. Trust your next project to the lighting industry’s leading manufacturer of tailored solutions.

Give us a call at 866-276-6242 or email us at rci@reflective-concepts.com

 

Topics: Medical Lighting, aluminum reflectors, lighting reflectors, fluorescent lighting, manufacturing, uv