Healthcare
Choose natural light
Adequate exposure to natural light is important to our physical and mental health. From regulating our circadian systems to improving cardiovascular health and reducing the risk of certain cancers, sufficient daylight is critical to our overall health and wellbeing. This is particularly true in healthcare settings, where patients are receiving treatment for everything from routine checkups and maintenance health services to chronic medical conditions, mental health issues, acute injuries, and illness.
Daylighting Benefits Both Patients and Healthcare Workers
Studies have shown that exposure to natural daylight in medical settings translates to:
- Hospital stays that are 8.5% shorter
- A 22% reduction in the need for pain medication among patients
Health Benefits of Daylighting
In addition to the positive impact that natural light has on our circadian rhythms, it also affects our levels of serotonin and melatonin, directly influencing our mood and quality of sleep. It is well understood that a positive mood and quality sleep aid in recovery of both long-term and acute medical conditions and injuries, so it makes sense that patients tend to fare better in healthcare settings with interior daylighting.
And it’s not just patients who experience better health and mood. Healthcare personnel working in dental and orthodontic clinics, mental health therapy offices, physical therapy offices, and other clinics with increased daylight availability have less stress than those who work in buildings with poorer lighting and less windows.
Green building technologies, including daylighting, also reduce the risk of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS), a term coined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to define the adverse health conditions suffered by workers in buildings with insufficient lighting and poor air quality. Symptoms of SBS include respiratory conditions, nausea, fatigue, itchy skin, and headaches.
By implementing daylight into your clinics, you can create a better waiting room or treatment room experience for your patients, while simultaneously creating a better working environment for your staff. When healthcare workers are healthier, happier, and less stressed, they are better able to provide effective treatment to patients. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.
Daylight Specialists Gallery
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Contact Daylight Specialists
If you want to learn more about how daylighting can support the well-being of healthcare staff, while simultaneously improving the health and recovery time of patients, contact Daylight Specialists for a consultation.
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