At the General University Hospital in Prague (VFN), circadian lighting with autonomous control was installed in the coronary unit’s exposed area. This innovative lighting, developed specifically for use in intensive care units in collaboration with the Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU), simulates the properties of natural daylight during the day, evening, and night. It brings significant benefits – improved vitality, support for patient treatment, better concentration, alertness, and mood of the staff.
Uniqueness of biodynamic lighting
Biodynamic lighting at VFN is unique in its complexity and exceptional control method. The system automatically and smoothly transitions between modes depending on the time of day or season, while meeting all the requirements for intensity, direction of light, and, above all, spectral composition and color temperature of the emitted light. During the day, it provides full-spectrum white light, mimicking the sun, naturally supporting the users’ body. In the evening, it provides warm light with reduced blue and azure tones, imitating the light during sunset, which prepares the body for night-time regeneration. At night, when the unit is calm, the lighting provides dim orange light, allowing normal patient checks but not disturbing sleep or the body’s nocturnal regeneration processes. If necessary, the brightness can be increased to allow doctors to perform even the most demanding visual tasks.
“Although the use of biodynamic lighting in healthcare is becoming more and more popular, it is certainly not yet a standard. The main obstacles to its widespread adoption in the Czech Republic are the financial and technical demands of implementation,” says Prof. MUDr. Jan Bělohlávek, Ph.D., head of the II. Internal Clinic of Cardiology and Angiology at VFN and 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University. He adds that in Western countries, this type of lighting is most commonly used in private practices and outside the most intensive departments. In this regard, the implementation at VFN is truly unique.
The operation of the technology and the benefits of the light are also described by Hynek Medřický, the technology director of Spectrasol. According to him, the lighting system is specific due to its application of three unique spectral compositions and light distribution in space. Overall, the light shines in a way that helps during the day and does not harm at night. “It is full-spectrum LED light for the day, light with reduced blue and azure for the evening, and orange light for the night, so it has no negative effects on the non-image-forming circadian timing system of both patients and staff, which significantly influences their vitality, mood, and overall health,” explains Hynek Medřický.
Positive impacts on patients and staff
According to available research, circadian lighting in healthcare facilities has a positive impact on both hospitalized patients and the exposed staff. Professor Bělohlávek expects that the new biodynamic lighting will help reduce the risk of ICU psychosis and other complications associated with hospitalization (infections, muscle weakness, malnutrition, etc.) in patients.
He adds that ICU psychosis, which includes agitation, irritability, aggression, lack of concentration, or insomnia, affects up to 60% of patients hospitalized in intensive care units. Some of the many causes and risk factors for these conditions include sleep deprivation, loss of time orientation, and sensory deprivation. This lighting is expected to reduce these risk factors.
It is likely that the hospital will expand the lighting implementation to other departments. “We would probably expect the greatest benefit in departments where there is the highest risk of ICU psychosis and where patients spend the longest time – such as in gerontological departments, intensive care units, ICU, psychiatric departments, and others. However, specialized lighting also finds use, for example, in sleep laboratories or postnatal wards for breastfeeding mothers,” predicts Ing. Tomáš Bouček, clinical engineer at the II. Internal Clinic of Cardiology and Angiology at VFN and 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University. “The simulation of natural daylight should bring more comfort to staff, reduce fatigue, and alleviate discomforts such as headaches,” he further comments on the Spectrasol lights. The first subjective feedback from the staff is very positive. An analysis of the results will also be conducted in collaboration with CTU, with whom the hospital is preparing several scientific projects focusing on evaluating the benefits of biodynamic circadian lighting. “We are in the early stages, but once everything is settled, we plan to monitor the impact of the lighting environment on the stability of the circadian rhythm and melatonin production,” explains Dr. Lenka Maierová, a healthy lighting specialist from CTU UCEEB.
Custom lights thanks to cooperation with CTU
“The lighting project for VFN builds on the experience we gained during our long-term cooperation with Spectrasol. At the same time, it was our most demanding project in terms of operational requirements in a healthcare facility,” describes Dr. Lenka Maierová the course of the collaboration in the project. According to her, this meant designing a lighting environment that synchronizes the circadian system, meeting high lighting requirements for necessary medical procedures while not disturbing the patient and allowing them quality sleep, ensuring easy control, and 100% reliability of the control system, including backup solutions for unforeseen situations.
This is also confirmed by Michal Vopat, head of Spectrasol’s R&D team: “The smart system that controls the biodynamic lighting is very specific. It needed to be set up so that the lighting modes would meet the biological needs of patients and staff, while also meeting the strict and specific criteria of operating in an intensive care unit. Therefore, the control program was custom-designed and continuously fine-tuned with the staff to ensure the best possible synergy.”
The plan for applying circadian lighting was part of the overall reconstruction of the coronary unit at VFN from the very beginning, which was very convenient for its workers, especially for preparing the electrical installation and distribution for the lighting system and its equipment. “This entire project for VFN lasted from July until the end of 2023. During this relatively short period, we managed to work with VFN staff to complete the implementation successfully,” says David Piller, leader of the Spectrasol project team, who also adds that the company will continue implementing biodynamic lighting in other healthcare facilities. It is in these places where lighting respecting circadian rhythms is very important for the demanding and responsible work of staff and faster recovery of patients.
Contact for media – VFN
Mgr. Marie Heřmánková, MHA, Head of the PR and Marketing Department, Press Spokesperson
email: marie.hermankova@vfn.cz, tel.: 224 962 074; 702 280 532
Prof. MUDr. Jan Bělohlávek, PhD, Member of the Dean’s College 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Head, 1st Internal Clinic of Cardiology and Angiology VFN and 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University
email: jan.belohlavek@vfn.cz, tel.: 724 371 594
Contact for media – Adison agency
Barbora Pospíšilová, Junior Account Manager
email: barbora.pospisilova@adison.cz, tel.: 777 102 518
Translated using AI
