Being a hospital patient or working as a health care professional is often stressful, and that has been especially true during the Covid pandemic. Hospitals have been hit hard with increased workload, staff burnout and patient dissatisfaction.
Enter the healing interactive arts experiences offered by Hearts Need Art. The nonprofit’s “Artful Recovery for Healthcare” program brings artists, musicians and writers into hospitals to provide a pick-me-up for both patients and staff. A plan to expand the initiative to Northeast Methodist Hospital was implemented this spring thanks to a 2022 High Impact Grant from Impact San Antonio.
The grant allowed the program to open Northeast Methodist on March 6, building on programs already in place at Methodist Main, University Hospital and the Audie Murphy VA Hospital.
Hearts Need Art was founded in 2016 by a childhood leukemia survivor who began volunteering as an adult by singing to patients. It started out on the oncology floor of Methodist Main.
“It can be so lonely in a hospital,” said Hearts Need Art CEO Richard Wilmore. “You’re living your life, able to go anywhere and do anything, and suddenly you’re trapped and unable to make any decisions for yourself. Hearts Need Art disrupts that pattern and allows patients, their family members and healthcare staff the ability to humanize their experience by providing moments of joy, self-expression and connection.”
At present, the program at Northeast Methodist employs three in-residence creatives: Trini, an artist; Jeff, a musician; and writer Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson, former San Antonio poet laureate. Their efforts have included painting flowers on a hospital room window, singing, and helping patients to record their histories and thoughts. The nonprofit is seeking volunteers to assist with the program.
“We use the arts to alleviate isolation and suffering and promote well-being,” Wilmore said. “We design creative, accessible experiences for adolescent and adult patients, caregivers and medical staff.”
Thanks to the $100,000 grant from Impact SA, Hearts Need Art is providing access to the arts for patients and staff five days a week, Wilmore said. And patients are appreciative.
One patient, Wanda, said, “After being in the hospital for five days and not feeling my best, there is a knock at the door and in walks Jeff with Hearts Need Art. He asked if he could play a song for us. My daughter and I were not prepared for his voice and talent! My heart could not stop smiling. No one ever wants to be in the hospital, but Jeff has an amazing way of speaking life into patients. This has truly made my day!”
To see the 2022 finalist video that Hearts Need Art created for member voting, click here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycDWqR2CsSc&list=PLtnuLLyUyoGmZFD7cKSDSH0n2akevlqDZ
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