Plentiful natural and artificial light can lift the mood of everyone in your plasma center, improving productivity and profits.
In healthcare settings, natural light has been shown to help patients recover faster, reduce the mental strain on patients, doctors and nurses, improve the doctor-patient relationship and lessen the likelihood of patients to become depressed after surgery.
Hospitals (and plasma centers) can feel sterile and even prison-like. With more light, patients feel a sense of spirituality, openness and freedom (“10 Benefits of Natural Light in Architecture,” Rethinking the Future). Stough can help you make the most of lighting in your centers.
1. Ways to introduce natural light
There are many ways to introduce light into your plasma collection centers:
- Large storefront doors and windows are welcoming and make you look open
- Phlebotomy ward windows make the process of donating plasma more pleasant
- Skylights can add light when access to the outdoors is limited
Natural light can reduce energy costs, make spaces feel larger, prevent the growth of fungi and improve psychological wellbeing (sunlight triggers the production of Vitamin D, cures rickets, reduces strain on the eyes, reduces dental problems, prevents bilirubin degradation, aids the breaking down of carbohydrates/protein/fat, enhances the development of white blood cells, improves the activity of the nervous system and the regulation of blood pressure).
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2. More benefits of windows in your centers
There’s more to windows than light. Here are 6 more benefits adapted from Peak Windows:
Better Storefront Visibility
A center with big windows will bring in more donors than a center without them. If people can see what’s going on inside, they will be more likely to come in.
Energy Efficiency
Good windows help insulate your building, offering protection against the elements, and saving you money, since you won’t need to use your heating and cooling system as much.
Soundproofing
Good quality windows can offer soundproofing, increasing the comfort levels of your building, making it a more personalized area by blocking outside noise.
Comfort
Since they are energy efficient, high-quality windows make the temperature of your space more comfortable. Big commercial windows help put people at their ease and raise energy and happiness levels.
Durability
Commercial windows are durable, made to last and withstand the elements.
Aesthetics
Big windows just look good. A place with commercial windows looks better to the eye than one with small windows. Depending on where you put them, they can also provide a view. An office space with big windows looking out on an attractive scene creates a nicer workspace than one without.
3. Artificial light has many of the same benefits of natural light
Bright spaces within plasma centers can improve accuracy, create a happier environment and reduce the time needed for each donation.
Think about enhancing the lighting in these parts of your centers:
- Exterior/parking
- Front entry
- Reception
- Phlebotomy ward
- Offices
- Conference rooms
- Exam rooms
- Plasma processing
Details about lighting technology choices for each area can be found in this prior Stough blog.
Lighting that helps with privacy and glare:
- Stough uses colorful translucent made by 3form that let light pass through while providing donor privacy during screenings.
- Wall cabinets can be lit from underneath.
- Reflective overhead lights with curved housings reflect off the ceiling, reducing glare on donors while in donation room.
- Attractive wall sconces or geometric art shapes on the walls can be lit from within or behind.