Therapeutic music at the bedside
Imagine patients who heal faster, need less pain medication, and have a more positive healthcare experience.
Imagine staff and caregivers who are less stressed themselves, dealing with less anxious patients.
I work in healthcare facilities to provide live harp music at the bedside of individual patients, tailoring the music to fit their needs in the moment.
Why? Music can decrease pain, lower blood pressure, reduce anxiety, stabilize heart rate, and more. See the research.
Staff and visitors can also benefit from live, therapeutic music.
I am Karen Peterson, Certified Music Practitioner (CMP). I am located in Jersey City, near New York City. See how to contact me.
What is the return on investment (ROI) for the healthcare facility to hire therapeutic musicians?
Experiencing a therapeutic music session can increase patient satisfaction, which contributes to higher Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) scores.
Providing therapeutic music shows compliance with EP2 in The Joint Commission Pain Management Standards➚. Providing therapeutic music to those dealing with opioid addiction shows compliance with EP4.
Faster healing times can result in higher patient turnover rates…
…while staff exposure to therapeutic music sessions can reduce staff turnover.
Decreased anxiety in patients can result in a less harried, more efficient staff.
Adding a therapeutic music program to your facility’s offerings can result in increased publicity.
Conducting research on the benefits of live, acoustic music at the bedside can result in grant money and recognition.
What about COVID-19?
In July of 2020, I spoke on a panel at the Somerset Folk Harp Festival about the impact of COVID-19 on therapeutic music. I was the President of the Music for Healing and Transition Program at the time. I am fortunate to be recognized as essential personnel at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, where I have provided therapeutic music for staff without pause throughout the pandemic.
Other panelists are Edie Elkan, Director of Bedside Harp; Dr. Laurence Furr from the Board of Advisors for Andrew Schulman's Medical Musician Initiative; Sister Margaret Mary McBride, Service Area Vice President for Mission Integration for Dignity Health in Arizona; Jocelyn Obermeyer from the International Harp Therapy Program; and Mary Stevens, Director of Clinical Musician Certification Program. The panel moderator is Maureen Buscareno, Assistant Director at Somerset.
The ability for the public to view this discussion at no charge was generously provided by Kathy DeAngelo, Director of the Somerset Folk Harp Festival➚.
Read about an example therapeutic session, see more answers to frequently asked questions about therapeutic music, or contact me.