s I N HEALTHCARE
22 HamiltonHealth.com
THE
As plans for Peeples Cancer Institute and Anna Shaw
Children’s Institute took shape, Hamilton’s planning team
sought innovative ways to enhance the patient experience.
Drawing from interviews with patients, caregivers, and
Hamilton’s Patient Advisory Councils, the team began to
blend clinical and holistic care into facility design and patient
care plans.
Whit��eld Healthcare ��oundation Executive Director
Jane Snipes formulated several ideas based on her past
experiences with arts in education programs in local schools.
She contacted Amanda Brown, Executive Director at the
Creative Arts Guild, and conversation began about the
development of an arts in healthcare partnership. With
Amanda having completed master’s level work on the impact
of the arts in healthcare, the vision of a healing arts program
was born.
Soon afterwards, the Hamilton design team met with Amanda
Brown and the Guild’s Gallery Director, Savannah Thomas.
The initial phase of the arts program would focus on obtaining
visual art from local and regional artists for Anna Shaw
Children’s Institute and Peeples Cancer Institute. The visual
art collections would serve as inspiration for the development
of a more immersive program centered on improving patient
care and experiences through the arts.
Beginning with selections for Anna Shaw Children’s Institute,
the Creative Arts Guild identi��ed artists and presented a
plan that would coordinate with thematic elements of the
new facility. “We were delighted to have the interest of
24 artists who agreed to create art for our new children’s
facility,” says Anna Shaw Children’s Institute Executive
Director Terri Woodruff. “Capitalizing on our treehouse
theme, the artists were able to draw inspiration from
nature and the outdoors to create pieces unique to each
room’s theme or purpose.” Artists were given the freedom
to use their creativity using various mediums including oil,
acrylic, mixed media, computerized art, and 3-D art.
The Creative Arts Guild and the Whit��eld Healthcare
��oundation partnered to hold an event at the Guild’s
��ebruary ��riday gallery opening to provide an opportunity
for community members and businesses to sponsor pieces
of art in Anna Shaw Children’s Institute. Art sponsors
are now recognized with a small plaque next to their
respective art piece(s) to honor the artist’s work as well
as the donor’s gift. A similar art program is underway for
Peeples Cancer Institute, with art sponsorships available
for community members’ support. “We have incredibly
talented artists living in our community and region,” says
��oundation Trustee and longtime Creative Arts Guild
supporter Cathy Snyder. “By supporting their creative
efforts and featuring their work, we are honoring our
people. Moreover, the arts in healthcare partnership
offers our community limitless opportunities for the
development of an integrated arts program at Hamilton.”
“A cancer diagnosis can cause patients to feel that their
health is out of their control,” says Mitchell Berger, MD,
Hamilton Cancer Institute Medical Director.
“Incorporating the arts into patient care
provides therapeutic and healing bene��ts, and
reduces stress and anxiety. The arts become a
refuge from the intense emotions associated
with illness.”
“As a foundation focused on healthcare in our
community, we see the arts as bene��ting our
patients, caregivers, and staff in numerous
ways,” says Jane. “We are strongly committed
to the health and wellbeing of this community,
and the arts allow us to connect on a human
level to the emotions and health challenges of
patients and caregivers as well as the demands
of the healthcare work environment on staff.
The arts become a win-win for everyone.”
/foundation
(L-R) Allie Lusk, Ann Hammack, and Savannah Thomas show off Trish
Andersen’s piece Fuzzy Wuzzy Bunny prior to the Art with Heart
sponsorship event at the Creative Arts Guild.
/foundation
