TriCounty Area Chamber Of Commerce: Pottstown Hospital - One Of Five Pennsylvania Hospitals Selected For Creative Arts Program Supportin ...

Pottstown PA

07 December, 2021

7:37 AM

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Press release from TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce: December 06, 2021 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   CONTACT:  Liam Migdail, HAP, (717) 561-5342                   Norah Johnson, PCA, (717) 585-4713   Pottstown Hospital - One of Five Pennsylvania Hospitals Selected for Creative Arts Program Supporting Frontline Workers Initiative supports well-being and resiliency of health care workers through music therapy   Harrisburg, PA (Dec. 1, 2021) – Five Pennsylvania hospitals and health systems will be the first to offer music therapy to support the resiliency and well-being of health care workers through an innovative partnership between The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) and Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA).   The statewide initiative—believed to be the first of its scale nationally supporting health care workers through music therapy—empowers hospitals to custom design programs that benefit their workforce. The program is facilitated by HAP and is supported in part by PCA, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.   Five partners have been selected to participate in the first of three planned phases of the program:   Einstein Medical Center Montgomery Jefferson Health (program will include multiple campuses) Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Pottstown Hospital – Tower Health Temple University Hospital - Episcopal Campus   "We are excited to see the innovative programs that these hospitals have developed to support their frontline workers put into action," said HAP President and CEO Andy Carter. "Health care workers throughout the commonwealth have selflessly and tirelessly cared for patients throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, often at the expense of their own physical and mental health. HAP is proud to facilitate this initiative to support their well-being and resiliency through the healing power of music."   Music therapy has proven to be an effective tool for health care workers experiencing compassion fatigue and burnout. It can also promote positive changes in mood, increase a sense of control, lower blood pressure, reduce heart rate, relax muscle tension, and build resiliency. In workplace settings, it has been found to help promote well-being and psychological health, manage occupational stress and health risks, and strengthen organizational welfare.   "It is extremely gratifying to see these services and therapies become available to frontline health care workers," said PCA Executive Director Karl Blischke. "The qualitative and quantitative benefit of music therapy is an inspiring illustration of the creative sector's ability to broadly deliver relevant and innovative solutions across the commonwealth."   Hospitals interested in participating were invited to submit proposals for how they would use funding provided through the initiative to work with a music therapist in delivering services to best fit the needs of their workforce. The PA Music Therapy Task Force, which is supporting HAP's efforts, evaluated the proposals and recommended grant awardees.    Learn more about the music therapy initiative online.   About HAP:  HAP is a statewide membership services organization that advocates for nearly 240 Pennsylvania acute and specialty care, primary care, subacute care, long-term care, home health, and hospice providers, as well as the patients and communities they serve. Additional information about HAP is available online.   About PCA:  The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA) is a state agency under the Office of the Governor. PCA's mission is to strengthen the cultural, educational and economic vitality of Pennsylvania's communities through the arts. By leveraging the immense potential of Pennsylvania's arts and cultural sector, the PCA supports jobs, builds community, inspires lifelong learning, promotes the commonwealth nationally and internationally, and sparks innovation. Learn more online.   # # # 2021                                              This press release was produced by TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed here are the author's own.