No More “Hospital Smell”

From Chapter 24 of Whiff!:

The waiting room of a physician, a dentist, or a diagnostic laboratory presents a prime opportunity to provide a soothing atmosphere for patients. Perceiving a pleasant, mood-elevating scent can take the edge off of worry, and possibly reduce the blood pressure and pulse rate of the patient.

Northwest Hospital in Randallstown agrees. Their new non-traditional lobby, funded by a donation of $850,000 from the Howard S. Brown family, will feature natural lighting, soft music, and aromatherapy! “The concept is to eliminate the typical cleaning odor of hospitals to reduce the stress of those waiting,” says hospital president Eric Wexler.

Brian Sanderoff, pharmacist and CEO of natural pharmacy Your Prescription for Health, echoes Brown’s enthusiasm for the new scent-enhanced waiting room, suggesting a mixture of calming aromas including lavender, sandalwood, bergamot, and clary sage. “Because the nerves from the nose go directly into the brain, aromas are a direct way of affecting many aspects of brain function including emotion and mood.”

We at Whiff! are delighted with the forward-thinkers who have made this waiting room of the future a reality of the present, and look forward to Northwest and other hospitals venturing even further into the scent revolution. As detailed in Whiff!, examination rooms, operating rooms, and diagnostic clinics are all prime candidates for mood-enhancing scents. As we know that certain aromas can alter spatial perception, even the claustrophobia-inducing MRI could be rendered less stressful. And it’s important to remember that not only the patient is affected. The often over-worked and under-appreciated healthcare workers, from receptionist to nurse to surgeon, are breathing the same sweet therapeutic air.