M A R C H 2 0 1 7 O U T P A T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T 5 5
The cameras and monitors you choose
for your OR are crucial considerations,
but don't downplay the importance of
carefully planning your lighting, too,
says Yuman Fong, MD, chief of sur-
gery at City of Hope (Calif.) Medical
Center. The key, says Dr. Fong, is to
include surgeons in the discussion,
but ultimately to defer to lighting
designers.
"In operating rooms there's only one
operative zone," says Dr. Fong. "But
you still need to light the nursing sta-
tion and the anesthesia area. Nurses
and anesthesia providers need to see
what they're doing while
the surgeon is working."
Surgeons, says Dr.
Fong, may say they want
3 lights in a certain spot,
not realizing that the
third light simply creates
shadows because the
ceiling's too high or too
low. "Some surgeons are
very insistent on stuff
that's not sensible," he explains. "But
all lights are made to focus at a certain
area, so lighting design should always
be done in consultation with vendors.
"The only thing the surgeons should
have to say is, 'I want this area to be
bright,' not how many lights there
should be or where they should be. Let
the lighting designer figure out how
many and where they should be for
maximum illumination. Too many peo-
ple don't take advantage of the ven-
dors' expertise."
— Jim Burger
BRIGHT IDEA
Don't Hesitate to Lean on Lighting Experts
• PROPER PLACEMENT Surgical lights shouldn't cast shadows over work areas and
surgical monitors.
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