Exposure to light can help reduce medical errors and improve patient outcomes in U.S. hospitals, according to a report by the Center for Health Design.

“Light allows staff to better perform visual tasks,” says Anjali Joseph, director of research for the Center for Health Design and author of the paper, “The Impact of Light on Outcomes in Healthcare Settings.” “It also controls circadian systems, affects mood and perception and enables critical chemical reactions in the body.”

The paper also said studies show that higher light levels are linked with better performance of complex visual tasks and that light requirements increase with age.

In addition, by controlling the body’s circadian system, light impacts patient outcomes by reducing depression, decreasing length of stay, improving sleep and circadian rhythm, lessening agitation, easing pain, and improving adjustment to night-shift work among staff.

The presence of windows in the workplace and access to daylight have been linked with increased satisfaction with the work environment, according to Joseph.(UPI)