Musicians’ talents please hospital patients

By Joy Turner
University News Services

A new program at the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center is bringing musicians into the hospital to share their talents with patients.

“Musicians on Call” is a four-week pilot program that engages the talents and expertise of performing artists to work with patients and perform for patient groups in the hospital. Artists in the new program are “on-call” for six hours, two days a week. They work with patient populations in units and rooms and also outpatient populations and visitors in waiting areas.

The program, which originally was named “Artist in Healthcare Music Program,” received a $4,000 grant for 2006-2007 from the Virginia Commission for the Arts.

The department initially presented three lunchtime musical performances a month in the lobby of the hospital for visitors, patients and staff.

“We have discovered that few patients have the mobility to get to the performance areas, and outpatients cannot attend the performances because they must remain in waiting areas to receive treatments,” said program director P. Muzi Branch. “The result is that people who need to tap into deeper sources of strength and consolation by watching the performances and listening to the music do not get the opportunity.”

Participating musicians are required to attend a training session that familiarizes them with hospital protocol and procedures. They also learn proper procedures regarding infection control.

VCU’s Department of Cultural Programs provides a full-service program in performing arts, fine arts, electronic/media arts, folk art and humanities for patients and staff of the VCU Medical Center. The department also sponsors a compassionate companion therapies program which includes art therapy, music therapy, dance therapy and acupressure therapy.