Summary:
Using art in hospital patient rooms and public spaces creates a therapeutic, healing environment. Patients who view art recover faster than those not viewing art.

Details or Sample:
When the Doctor Orders Art

Bringing alternative, innovative therapies to patient care is receiving greater acceptance in healthcare. Due partly to increased research and findings of government agencies like the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and independent research studies, the science of healing environment is gaining credibility and support.

One such alternative is the use of art in intensive care units for heart surgery patients. This clinical research project (Ulrich, Lunden, and Eltinge, 1993) incorporated large art canvases attached to the foot of patient beds. The canvases selected for the study represented nature scenes, people, abstract linear and abstract circular shapes.

One of the first objects viewed by the post-operative patients was the art at the foot of their beds/gurneys. Throughout their recovery, these patients were monitored for such clinical landmarks as the amount of pain medication requested, blood pressure, anxiety, and speed of recovery measured in part by the length of hospital stay and early discharge.

Study results indicated those patients who viewed art did recover faster (using the stated criteria) than those not viewing art. And of those recovering faster, patients who viewed impressionistic nature scenes with soft blues and greens that included calm water, healed best.

Hospital administrators have noted these results and are more inclined to value the healing benefit of placing art in hospital public spaces and patient rooms. Rather than having a design team select art solely on merit of size, color, or budget, the choices are based on scientific findings that support art in the healing environment. Choices for their collections include impressionistic, pastoral scenes with calm water. In Chicago, Illinois, Northwestern Memorial Hospital searched for, and commissioned, art of this nature to display in its patient rooms and public spaces as part of creating a therapeutic environment.

The benefit of healing art for patients is now acknowledged and the role the environment plays in the therapeutic place of service recognized. The growing trend of incorporating healing art into the care facility has become more mainstream than alternative.

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Written by: Joywriter
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