What is the need for more patient-centered care?
The science of medicine tends to accentuate detachment and objectivity in the service of better diagnosis and therapy
Patients, unlike consumers, lack complete control and this increases feelings of fear and vulnerability
While curing requires a medical intervention with absence of illness as the intended outcome, healing aims for a return to wholeness and includes the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual dimensions of life
Many healthcare settings can be cold, sterile and impersonal and can contribute to the suffering of patients by alienating and isolating them.
The arts in a medical environment can provide positive distraction and enjoyment for patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals
We cannot always affect the course of disease, but we can definitely alter the experience of the illness in a positive way.
How does Healing Arts address the need?
Arts in Medicine is a nationwide movement that integrates all forms of expressive art into healthcare settings
The arts in a medical environment can provide positive distraction and enjoyment for patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals
Arts-based programs can help reduce anxiety and create an environment conducive for physical and psychological healing
Creative expression of the arts can reduce isolation, improve mood and lead to better outcomes
“There is a need to return to the humanistic origins of medicine and encourage a patient-centered focus in the delivery of care.”