Lighting is extremely important in healthcare. Want to learn what lighting challenges to be aware of and how to overcome them? Keep reading to find out how a GCE National professional can help you!
The Importance of Lighting in Healthcare
Lighting is vital in healthcare settings and for healthcare workers. A large part of healthcare is diagnosis and examinations. Lighting provides the necessary assistance to perform in-depth diagnoses and exams. Workers need light to treat patients and visually inspect each problem.
Lighting can also be used to comfort patients as they receive treatment. Calming lights and warmer tone lights can set a relaxing setting for patients. Most individuals at a healthcare facility experience anxiety and fear at some point. A tranquil atmosphere can calm patients down and keep them relaxed.
There is a lot of paperwork, administration, and bureaucracy within each healthcare facility. Lights make it possible for secretaries, office workers, and insurance providers to work efficiently.
Lighting in lobbies and waiting rooms keeps patients relaxed and calm. Nurse stations and exam rooms need lights for inspections, appointments, and diagnoses. Outdoors lights illuminate sidewalks, parking lots, parking decks, and entrances. Overnight rooms require lights that accommodate both patients and healthcare workers.
The Lighting Challenges
There can be many challenges when it comes to lighting. Lighting a healthcare facility can have obstacles, but there are solutions. With consideration and help from a GCE National lighting expert, you can overcome these challenges!
Budget and Installation
Similar to many other things, money plays a role in lighting a healthcare facility. A healthcare facility must first determine its budget for lighting before purchasing and installing.
Many businesses will seek the cheapest lighting option before considering maintenance, installation, labor, and upkeep. Sometimes the cheapest option initially is not always the inexpensive option in the long run; this gets many healthcare facilities in trouble because they spend more on maintenance and replacements than what is allowed in their budget.
Not only can lighting get expensive, but installation can prove to be a problem as well. Installing lighting is more complicated than just a few wiring hacks. To comply with healthcare rules, rooms have to be a certain level of sterility and cleanliness. Taking the time to install lighting and cleaning rooms can be burdensome. Installing lighting requires labor and empty rooms.
Rooms will have to be vacant to install lights. With this in mind, installation can be disruptive and troublesome for facilities. This disruption may prevent healthcare facilities from admitting patients.
Accommodating
Healthcare facility lighting has to accommodate both patients and employees; this can be demanding on owners. Facilities must provide lighting that allows patients to relax, recover, and move around. Facilities must also provide lighting that enables healthcare workers to examine, work, and function.
Lighting must also be accommodating in times of emergency and failure. Sometimes large storms, faulty systems, and mistakes can cause electrical and power outages; this can’t always be prevented. Healthcare facilities must adapt in times of power outages. Facilities need to choose lighting and electrical equipment in case of an emergency.
Each room must be able to handle the power load of lighting and equipment. It can be challenging to choose lights that do not put out an excessive amount of energy. Rooms should have lights that accommodate patients, workers, and electrical limits.
Patients’ Needs
It can be challenging to install lights that will not hinder the ability to recover and recuperate. Comfort must be taken into consideration when choosing the lights for a healthcare facility.
For example, healthcare rooms should not have an excessive amount of unsettling lights and distractions. There should be minimal blinking lights, dim lights, and disturbing lights. Patients are admitted to healthcare facilities to get better, not to be overwhelmed.
Healthcare facilities are often perceived as clinical, impersonal, and cold. This type of setting and atmosphere can obstruct recovery. Many facilities do not consider this when admitting overnight patients. Overnight patients may have a hard time staying encouraged when they are surrounded by artificial light.
The Solutions
There are three different ways to overcome the challenges of budgeting, installation, accommodation, and the patient’s needs. The three ways are by seeking energy-efficient methods to lower costs, considering the atmosphere before installation, and talking to a GCE National Lighting Expert.
Seek Energy Efficient Methods to Lower Costs
One way to use less money on lighting is by daylight harvesting. Daylight harvesting includes maximizing the use of the sun and its natural light. Large windows and reflective glass are assets to have when using natural light. Using natural light can lower your energy cost and output!
Another energy-efficient method is to use long-lasting bulbs such as LEDs. Specifically, LEDs with lighting controls can help your healthcare facility lower the energy output and electricity bill.
Controls can be used to manage lights, lumen levels, and light products. Research various manufactures with light controls so you can choose what’s right for you.
Using wireless products is a great way to lower installation costs. Wireless products are typically a less invasive fixture to install. Not only is it more cost-efficient, but it also requires less labor time and less renovation time. Similarly, consider all-in-one fixtures. All-in-one fixtures can lower installation and renovation time by only installing one fixture.
Consider the Atmosphere
To increase the overall satisfaction and experience, consider the atmosphere of the facility. It is vital to understand the needs of the environment and the needs of the patient. There is a technology that simulates natural lighting and the time of day. Rhythm and color tuning technology allow patients to experience morning light and evening light.
The physical appearance of lighting and light fixtures can play a part in creating the atmosphere. Bulky, uncovered lights can make the facility feel uncomfortable. By using warm lamps and sophisticated accent lighting, healthcare facilities can increase the overall mood of lobbies, waiting rooms, and sitting areas. Lamps and wall lights create an inviting ambiance for patients, workers, and family members.
Other rooms of healthcare facilities do not require ambient lightings like lobbies and waiting rooms. Spaces such as conference rooms, offices, and cubicles only need fundamental lighting. Likewise, employee-only regions of the facilities require task lighting and bright lights for working efficiently.
Talk to a Professional
Above all suggestions, the most viable solution is contacting a professional. A lighting professional can aid healthcare facilities in many ways. Professionals can determine your healthcare facility’s biggest challenges, such as budget, installation, accommodation, and needs.
By assessing the challenges of your healthcare facility, a lighting expert can find you the perfect ambient lighting, energy-efficient lighting, and high-quality lighting accessories.
GCE National has a team of healthcare lighting experts that know everything about lighting healthcare facilities.
Call GCE National and talk to a professional about lighting your healthcare facility today!
