Feeling more energized and less tired during night shifts. That's the message from the staff at the intensive care unit at Hudiksvall Sjukhus, who have installed Chromaviso Circadian Lighting. A health-promoting light that supports the body's natural rhythm. At the same time, patients are stimulated with a unique sound concept.
In April 2015, the intensive care unit at Hudiksvall hospital relocated to new premises. As part of this move, the staff had a strong desire to install circadian lighting from the innovative Danish company, Chromaviso, who are experts in health-promoting lighting.
— The research shows that circadian lighting is beneficial for staff working night shifts and is good for overall health, says Kristina Löf, a nurse at the hospital.
She was also involved in providing input for the design of the unit, which is modern and well thought out, with 10 beds and a centrally located monitoring area. Lighting plays a crucial role, with large windows seamlessly merging natural and indoor light.
The circadian lighting system is automatically controlled and follows a clinically validated light protocol that takes into account the unit's rhythm and patient category. The light is brightest during the middle of the day, and at night, a specially developed warm, golden night light is turned on.
— The warm, golden night light is fantastic during the night. It is gentle and doesn't bother the patients, but we can still see well, says Anna Ekstedt, a nurse.
— The night light is pleasant for the eyes. We no longer have to squint like we did when we had white light at night, says Kristina Löf, adding:
— I feel more refreshed and less tired during night shifts. The light has made a significant difference, and everyone is very happy with it.
In addition to the circadian lighting, both the staff and patients have the option to choose from a range of ergonomic lighting settings for specific areas, activities, and emergency situations. These settings have been carefully selected based on an assessment of the department's workflow and needs, as well as Chromaviso's documented user behavior from similar installations.
— We make great use of the different settings. The night light is perfect for creating a calm atmosphere, and we use the white light when, for example, we need to take a blood sample. It's an important complement to the overall circadian lighting, explains Kristina Löf.
The lighting is controlled from each bedside, where a small touch screen displays the six basic settings.
The lighting system is integrated with the Curavivo sound concept and offers two options. When the emergency light is turned on at one bed, a soft sound automatically plays at the surrounding beds.
— When the sound is on, it doesn't disturb the other patients during an emergency situation, explains Kristina Löf. The second option is soothing music at each bed.
— When a patient is feeling restless and awake, we turn on the music. Many patients find it calming and pleasant, she elaborates.
The lighting is operated via a touchscreen, offering six different basic settings that are just one touch away.
Additionally, the lighting can be turned off altogether.
A health-promoting lighting solution that supports the body's natural circadian rhythm for both patients and staff.