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H UMAN BEINGS ARE designed to sleep during the night and wake with the sunrise, follow- ing circadian rhythms that affect emotional, mental and physical health. But since electricity usage became widespread, people have reduced their exposure to sunlight. To explore the consequences of relying on artifi cial light, Rana Zadeh, Assistant Professor of Design and Environmental Analysis at Cornell University, and fellow researchers studied two groups of nurses: one who had access to sunlight throughout the day and one who did not. The results were published in Health Environments Research & Design Journal. The team collected data about physi- ological variables such as blood pressure, body temperature, heart rates and oxy- genation. They also gathered information about communication and rates of work- related mistakes. The Takeaway Zadeh discovered that the nurses exposed to sunlight appeared more alert, communicated more clearly, demonstrated improved moods on the job and even had lower blood pressure. Additionally, she "Research has shown a range of different outcomes are impacted by sunlight, including regulation of the circadian rhythm, shorter length of stay for patients, reduced perception of pain for patients, and reduced anxiety and agitation among elderly patients with dementia. Improved outcomes for patients also help staff manage their patients better." — Anjali Joseph, PhD, Endowed Chair in Architecture + Health Design and Research and Associate Professor of Architecture at Clemson University observed that nurses exposed to natural light appeared less susceptible to fatigue and were less likely to make errors. "Intelligently designed clinical work- spaces could lead to higher safety and quality levels …," Zadeh says. "By default, when we think of a healthcare workspace, we may think of a large, deep building with no windows for staff, little access to greenery or outdoors, an institutional feel, complex wayfi nding, and monoto- nous color and lighting. Knowing that the human brain receives stimuli from the environment and constantly changes neural hormonal responses that control cognitive performance and alertness, we might be able to improve outcomes by creating more vigilant and restorative elements in environments." Others have similarly observed that natural light can improve outcomes in healthcare settings. "It is free, abundantly available and is essential for human functioning …," says Anjali Joseph, PhD, Endowed Chair in Architecture + Health Design and Research and Associate Professor of Architecture at Clemson University. "Every effort should be made to integrate sunlight into healthcare building interiors." ■ By Katy Mena-Berkley ONE KEY TO EMPLOYEE PRODUCTIVITY, SATISFACTION AND GENERAL WELLNESS COULD BE THE POWER OF NATURAL LIGHT. A RECENT STUDY ADDS TO THE GROWING BODY OF EVIDENCE SUGGESTING EXPOSURE TO SUNLIGHT BOOSTS EFFICIENCY AND MOOD AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND IMPROVES PATIENT OUTCOMES. By Katy Mena-Berkley The Science of Letting the Sunshine In ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++ + +++ + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ❮ PRACTICE MANAGEMENT M D N E W S . CO M ■ MD NEWS | 5

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