Essential Things You Need to Know About Hospital Lighting
Introduction
Medical professionals perform various tasks that require a high level of precision. After all, any mistake they commit can result in grave consequences that can literally affect the lives of their patients. One of the many ways they can avoid these blunders while working is to ensure that they execute their duties under adequate lighting.
If you are looking for a place where you can procure hospital lighting equipment, turn to us at Ecoshift Corporation. We are a company based in Manila, Philippines, and we specialize in providing business organizations with high-quality lighting fixtures. To learn more about our products or place an order of our available items, feel free to get in touch with our team.
Why Do Hospitals Need Proper Lighting?
The importance of proper illumination in a hospital setting can never be overstated. Here are some of the many reasons it is needed:
It Helps Healthcare Professionals Perform Their Duties
In a hospital, you will find many kinds of professionals, and all of them require proper lighting to do their job. With the right amount of illumination, physicians can get a clearer view of the laboratory test results that they are studying. Pharmacists, meanwhile, can read doctors’ prescriptions more easily. Even the cleaning staff of hospitals benefit from adequate lighting because it allows them to spot unsanitary places.
Surgeons are among those who cannot do their jobs if they do not have access to the proper lighting. Bright and focused lights are needed for surgeons to perform operations accurately and efficiently. The right fixtures will help them avoid any mistakes, which can result in major problems during surgeries.
It Affects the Mood of Both Medical Workers and Patients
Illumination plays a significant role in uplifting both patients and medical professionals. Doctors’ offices have neutral lighting that is neither too bright nor too dim because this provides a sense of tranquility. This serene vibe is a way to help patients remain calm during the consultation with their physicians. Doctors, on the other hand, can maintain their composure while speaking with their patients.
Pediatricians’ clinics might be a bit different, though. They still have neutral lighting, but doctors sometimes install luminaires with playful designs. Doing so gives the room an aura that feels very welcoming to children.
It Helps Gain Patients’ Trust
The hospital building will look old and run-down if its façade is not illuminated or if the luminaires inside are burned out or blinking. An establishment like this might find it hard to gain the trust of its patients.
Proper illumination, both interior and exterior, makes the building look new or at least well-maintained. In a way, this gives patients a sense of assurance that the hospital they are entering is reputable and that the people working there are respectable.
It Aids a Patient in Their Recovery
Natural daytime light is vital for patients because it affects their body clock and helps them rest better and sleep longer at night. It also provides them with a sense of calm, which aids in their fast recovery.
Unfortunately, not all rooms in hospitals have large windows that allow sunlight to enter. So, some institutions install luminaires that mimic natural daytime light. Providing the proper lighting that patients need is a way to help them feel less fatigued, especially when they are recovering from a severe illness.
It Provides Safety to Both Patients and Healthcare Workers
Accidents can happen if people cannot see where they are walking. They might slip or trip because of spills or objects on the floor that they were not able to notice because of inadequate lighting. To prevent these unfortunate circumstances from happening, all parts of the hospital should be properly illuminated.
These are just some of the main reasons medical facilities need the right amount of lighting. If you ever need hospital lighting equipment, feel free to contact us at Ecoshift. We offer high-quality lighting fixtures in Manila, Philippines. Get in touch with us today if you wish to check out the products that we can provide.
How Much Light Is Needed in Hospitals?
Lux (lx) is the unit of measurement used to quantify the intensity of light in a specific area. It is different from lumen (lm), which measures the amount of light that a certain fixture can provide. In physical terms, a single lux is equal to one lumen per square meter (1 lx = 1 lm/m2). If you have a 100-lm bulb installed in a 10-m2 room, the total illumination in that area is 10 lx.
The right amount of illumination needed in hospitals varies per area. Operating theaters are among the rooms that require the highest level of illumination, while imaging offices are the ones where not much light is needed. London-based institution Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) has specific recommendations of how much lighting is necessary for each area in the hospital. Here is a brief guide:
Wards
The amount of illumination needed inside hospital wards is 50 to 100 lx. This level of lighting can provide a cozy atmosphere, which is necessary for patients to relax and feel at ease.
In most cases, a single hospital ward houses several patients. To provide them with the right amount of lighting that they need, it is recommended to use multiple luminaires. It is a good idea to install one large fixture that can illuminate the whole room. Then, simply add supplementary lights near each bed.
Corridors
The corridors are among the busiest areas in the hospitals, and they are certainly among the few places in the building where many people gather. Patients and visitors stay on them, and doctors and nurses sometimes discuss cases there.
As advised by CIBSE, about 100 to 200 lx is needed to properly illuminate corridors, especially during the busiest hours. This amount of lighting prevents minor accidents, like people tripping or bumping into each other. There are plenty of lighting options that can be installed in corridors, but LED tube lights with recessed housing are among the most commonly used. These fixtures are bright enough, and they are energy-efficient.
Intensive Care Unit
Also known as the ICU, the intensive care unit is usually where those who had just undergone an operation or suffered a serious infection are placed. This area in the hospital helps induce maximum recovery, and proper lighting is needed to achieve that feat.
The general recommendation for lighting in ICUs is patterned on an average person’s circadian rhythm, a natural sleep-wake cycle that induces growth and recovery. During the day, the patient should receive plenty of light or up to 200 lx. This reduces drowsiness in the morning, which helps them sleep better at night. The level of illumination can be lessened gradually in the afternoon and evening. Warm lights are recommended during these hours to stimulate the body’s melatonin production.
Operating Theaters
The operating theater, without a doubt, is one of the most sensitive areas in the whole medical facility. It is where doctors and their assistants perform surgeries on a patient, so any error, no matter how minimal, cannot be accepted. To lessen the chances of surgeons committing any mistakes, they need very bright lights. A high level of illumination is required to see the flesh they are cutting and the sutures they are stitching.
Although it depends on the surgery required, at least 10,000 lx is needed on the operating table. This level may increase for more sensitive procedures. General lighting in the whole theater should be about 1,000 lx, according to recommendations by CIBSE. The amount of lighting in the entire room should be precise to prevent glares, shadows, and other visual obstacles that can compromise the accuracy of the operation.
Physicians’ Offices
At the physician’s office, the patient speaks with their attending doctor about their condition. The lighting in this hospital area should induce a cozy atmosphere to let the patient feel more comfortable. This means that the level of illumination should not be so high that it becomes too bright for everyone inside the room.
However, it should also not be too low that doctors have a hard time reading the medical files they have on hand. Around 300 lx is recommended to create the right ambiance.
Types of Hospital Lighting
Different rooms in hospitals require a specific amount of light that can be achieved by installing the right luminaires. Here at Ecoshift, we offer high-quality hospital lighting products in Manila, Philippines. We have an extensive catalog of items that are suitable for your medical facility. Feel free to browse through the products available at our company:
