CASE STUDY
Medical Group Designs Primary
Care Facility with LED Lighting
and Controls
Challenge:
Tampa General Medical Group needed to make changes to coincide with the
new federal health reform policies. Additionally, it wanted to build a modern
ambulatory clinic that provided patients high quality medical attention at a lower
cost while increasing their satisfaction and comfort during visitation.
Solution:
In addition to patient comfort, Tampa General Medical Group needed to take
into consideration energy savings and maintenance reduction in the new facility.
The medical group selected and installed VT Series 2’ x 2’ LED Luminaires from
Lithonia Lighting® in 75 percent of the building.
© 2014 Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc. All rights reserved. | www.acuitybrands.com/healthcare
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CASE STUDY
Located just 20 minutes from its parent hospital, the Tampa
General Medical Group (TGMG) Family Care Center in Brandon
opened in 2012 as one of several primary care clinics in the
Tampa General Hospital medical system.
With federal healthcare reform policies impacting hospitals and
medical centers across the nation, TGMG needed to make
changes to coincide with federal regulations. The hospital
system set two primary goals.
“The overall goal of the project was to build a modern
ambulatory clinic that provides high quality medical attention at
a lower cost for patients,” said Jose Marotta, Tampa General
Hospital Chief Electrical Engineer. “Secondly, we wanted to
help patients in the outer region of Tampa receive hospital
quality care at a primary care facility.”
The long life translates to lower-maintenance lighting, and a
high color-rendering index (CRI).
Planning for a New Clinic
TGMG knew its Brandon primary care facility needed an
environment that would increase patient satisfaction and
comfort during their visit. “Based on our experiences, the right
aesthetics inside a health center make patients feel more at
home and in return, feel better,” said Marotta. “One of those
factors directly contributing to aesthetics is lighting.”
A common lighting challenge in healthcare facilities is to
provide light levels suitable for patients, nurses and doctors,
as well as clinicians and staff alike. “We know our nurses and
doctors need high quality lighting to see, for instance, physical
details of skin ailments or open wounds,” said Marotta. “But
we also need light levels suitable for patient comfort.”
The overall goal of the project was to build a modern
ambulatory clinic that provides high quality medical
attention at a lower cost for patients.
In addition to patient and healthcare provider preference,
TGMG needed to take into consideration energy savings and
maintenance reduction in the new facility.
“In order to meet financial goals, it was necessary we find a
lighting solution that saved energy and reduced maintenance,”
said Marotta. “We looked directly at LED lighting paired with
lighting controls and knew this combination would allow us to
meet our challenges.”
*
VT Series LED luminaires were specified with a lumen
management option that saves an additional 10 percent of
the energy, and further extends the life of the LED system.
Marotta and his team identified key fixture considerations
that would make this project a success. “The lumen level,
physical appearance, and form and fit of luminaires were all
© 2014 Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc. All rights reserved. | www.acuitybrands.com/healthcare
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CASE STUDY
closely evaluated to determine which lighting system would
be the best,” said Marotta. “We also took foot candle ratings
and long-term exposure photos to help measure lighting
performance.”
Choosing the Right Lighting
After careful consideration and testing of various LED
luminaires, TGMG selected multiple LED luminaires and lighting
controls from Acuity Brands®.
“Lithonia Lighting VT Series 2’ x 2’ LED luminaires were
chosen for approximately 75 percent of the building, including
nurses stations, corridors, exam rooms, conference rooms, the
lounge and the waiting room,” said Marotta.
Volumetric illumination is achieved by creating an optimal
mix of light to walls, partitions, vertical and horizontal work
surfaces.
VT Series LED luminaires are designed to deliver high quality
volumetric lighting for ambient illumination. Unlike traditional,
more directed lighting systems, volumetric lighting creates a
uniform balance between the light delivered on the patient care
and documentation tasks, and illumination that is comfortable
and inviting for patients and facility staff. This architectural
luminaire can help healthcare facilities avoid the cold,
institutional feeling associated with many clinics.
Additionally, VT Series LED luminaires were specified with a
lumen management option that ensures a constant level of
illumination throughout the lifetime of the system, an option
that saves an additional 10 percent of the energy, and further
extends the life of the LED system. “The long life translates to
lower-maintenance lighting, and a high color-rendering index
(CRI), allowing doctors and nurses to accurately access patient
status and condition visually,” said Marotta.
nPODM Series WallPods communicate with other nLight
devices via a CAT-5 cable.
TGMG also saw nLight® digital control technology as an
added benefit of the VT Series LED luminaires. nLight controls
maximize energy savings and add to the aesthetic appeal of
the clinic’s interiors.
“In the exam rooms, there are two levels of light. The controls
adjust the LEDs with our customized settings, but with one
touch, can be turned to 100 percent,” said Marotta. “If a patient
goes in the exam room to speak with the doctor but does not
need a physical exam, lighting does not have to be too bright.
It helps keep everyone comfortable while saving the most
amount of money.”
*
TGMG plans to use LED lighting and controls in all future
primary care facilities. It also intends to upgrade its main
hospital campus with RT Series LED luminaires from Lithonia
Lighting.
© 2014 Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc. All rights reserved. | www.acuitybrands.com/healthcare
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CASE STUDY
In addition to VT Series LED luminaires, Winona® Drum
Series pendants and wall sconces were used for decorative
illumination in the reception area, waiting room and bathrooms.
Downlights from Lithonia Lighting were also used in the
reception area. Additionally, TGMG installed Lithonia Lighting
LED exit signs and emergency lighting units.
In just one day, the electrician was able to install the VT Series
LED luminaires and nLight controls. “The installation was
incredible,” said Marotta. “The process to install the lights
moved really fast and the price was low enough that we could
afford more fixtures since the electrician did not have to run
a hard wire with controls. The electrician only had to put the
fixtures up and they were ready to use.”
Impressive Results
While the electrical team was impressed with the results of
the installation, the LED lighting and controls were equally well
received by the clinic staff.
“The lighting enhances the aesthetics of the ambulatory clinic,
and you can really tell a difference when you walk into the
building,” said Kathleen Hoffman, Tampa General Medical
Group Nurse Manager, Brandon. “The lighting makes it easy to
tell that everything is clean. Because of the controls, we do not
have to adjust the lights for different times of the day, and we
can adjust them for different patient scenarios. The lighting has
been perfect.”
Lithonia Lighting VT Series 2’ x 2’ LED luminaires were
chosen for approximately 75 percent of the building,
including nurses stations, corridors, exam rooms, conference
rooms, the lounge and the waiting rooms.
Application Details
Project: Tampa General Medical Group Family Care Clinic,
Brandon, Florida
Acuity Brands Products: Lithonia Lighting: 2 x 2 VT Series,
Quantum LQM EL N LED exit signs and Quantum ELM2
LED emergency lighting units; Winona Lighting: Drum Series
Benno 6100 and Drum Series Benno 6102; Sensor Switch:
nLight Controls
Agent: Envision Lighting Systems, LLC
Project Size
Square Footage: 10,000-square-feet
© 2014 Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc. All rights reserved. | www.acuitybrands.com/healthcare
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CASE STUDY
Featured Products
VT Series LED Luminaires
The VT Series LED luminaires combine
aesthetics and high performance with intelligent
LED engines for most lighting applications.
LIF6 Fluorescent Downlights
New construction applications requiring highperformance horizontal reflectors using compact
fluorescent lamps.
Quantum ELM2 LED Emergency Lighting
Provides a minimum of 90 minutes of illumination
for the rated wattage upon loss of AC power.
Ideal for applications requiring attractive unit
equipment with quick installation.
Quantum LQM EL N LED Exit Signs
Ideal for applications requiring attractive,
quick-installation exit signs and low energy
consumption.
Drums Series Benno 6100
Designed for accent lighting applications where
color, dimmability, extended lamp life and
efficacy are important.
www.lithonia.com
www.lithonia.com
www.lithonia.com
www.lithonia.com
www.winonalighting.com
© 2014 Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc. All rights reserved. | www.acuitybrands.com/healthcare
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CASE STUDY
Featured Products
Drums Series Benno 6102
Designed for interior architectural applications
requiring a wall mounted luminaire that provides
a key design element to the overall space.
nLight Controls
nLight is a digital architecture and networking
technology that cost-effectively integrates
time-based, daylight-based, sensor-based and
manual lighting controls. Designed to function
standalone in an individual zone or networked
together across an entire facility or campus.
www.winonalighting.com
www.nlightcontrols.com
For More Information
www.acuitybrands.com/healthcare
Karyn Gayle
Vice President, Healthcare Vertical
Office: 770-860-2461
Cell: 770-548-9249
© 2014 Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc. All rights reserved. | www.acuitybrands.com/healthcare
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