Medical Arts Programs Bring Healing and Hope
Arts in medicine, or arts in health programs, are commonly found in many hospitals and health care organizations. These medical arts programs often incorporate a variety of creative channels such as performing and visual arts, literary works, and design. Through the creation and development of art activities, performances, and other imaginative curricula, arts in health as a specialty proves year after year to have positive lasting effects on patients during their individual journeys towards healing.
Individual research suggests that patients can improve their well-being by taking part in an arts in medicine program at a hospital or other health care organization since it stirs so much creative expression, and often requires teamwork and collaboration. This can take the focus off of a patient’s circumstances and encourage the restoration of mind, body, and spirit. Hospitalists, caregivers, and family members are also able to benefit from the therapeutic effects of arts in medicine programs.
What is an Arts in Medicine Program?
Typically, a hospital will have a studio that patients (if they are able), family members, and health care workers can visit on specific dates and times for events and opportunities to create meaningful experiences. The studios are purposefully created to offer relief and relaxation to all who utilize them. If patients are too ill or have mobility challenges, arts in medicine staff members can bring the experiences to them bedside. In several scenarios, professional artists and musicians serve as managers of arts in medicine programs. This brings an unmatched level of experience and professionalism along with charisma and empathy.
What Are Examples of Arts in Medicine Programs?
Examples of how arts in medicine can be utilized in the hospital or other health care settings include:
- Bedside art projects and crafts
- Open art studios for patients, families, and team members
- Live musical and concert performances (usually held in the lobby of a hospital, or brought to patients via room-to-room visits)
- Special theatrical presentations
- Creation of poems or short stories patients, families, and team members (led by an arts in medicine staff member)
How Can I Participate?
There are so many ways for patients, their families, and even health care providers to get involved in an arts in medicine program. The above list is only a fraction of what you may find in any health care group.
At Advanced Care Hospitalists, many of our hospitals and health care organizations offer successful arts in medicine programs that are a huge benefit to all who are a part of them, whether as a participant or an employee.
Many arts in medicine programs also look for volunteers to help facilitate activities throughout the year. If you’d like more information about any of the arts in health programs that our facilities are a part of, or would like to learn about volunteering, please contact us. We would be happy to connect you to the right resource within the hospitals we partner with.
Learn More About Advanced Care Hospitalists (ACH)
ACH is a Lakeland-based hospitalist group providing comprehensive patient care in community hospitals across Central Florida. Our providers are highly skilled, board-certified internal medicine specialists who are available around-the-clock to meet the care needs of patients from hospital admission through discharge. Post-discharge from the hospital, we continue overseeing patient care for 30 days.
We’ve found that continued care coordination ensures more accurate medication reconciliation, improved compliance with discharge plans, better scheduling of follow-up visits, and fewer hospital readmissions. Our providers do everything in their power to make sure our patients receive the compassionate and comprehensive care they need to promote healing and prevent a second hospital admission.
For more information about our services and our practice, please contact Advanced Care Hospitalists at 863-816-5884 or fill out a contact form online.
