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Not the pride of knowledge, but the humility of wisdom
Not the science of technology, but the art of healing
Tan Tock Seng Hospital will be launching the “Art of Healing” programme on 6 February 2006. It is an initiative that aims to use the arts as a form of therapy to soothe patients’ mind and body and help them on their path to recovery. Through the arts, the hospital will be transformed to a warm, welcoming and enriching environment for patients, families, staff and visitors.
A series of monthly lunchtime and evening activities will be held at the hospital’s atrium from March, featuring various arts groups who have volunteered to be a part of this art-healing programme.
Using the arts as a platform for its intrinsic value (art as a healing property and as objects of beauty) and its extrinsic values (symbolic of the TTSH art of healing honed over the past 160 years), the programme will look towards the holistic healing of patients on all levels.
The programmes and artworks will permeate the environment by making healing art a part of hospital ID, events and activities. This will create a conducive healing environment for both patients and visitors as a soothing and calming atmosphere is created.
There will be an Indian classical dance in March followed by a Chinese Traditional Musical Instrument Ensemble in April.
The programmes will provide an enriching multi-cultural experience for patients and staff and welcomes artists of all art forms to be a part of these performances.
Other performances in the pipeline will feature acappella groups and classical musical quartets. Dance and music forms such as Flamenco and piano recitals will also be showcased.
Live demonstrations such as Chinese calligraphy, Japanese Ikebana and Origami demonstrations are set to take place in TTSH in the coming months. The hospital is also looking to have displays of martial arts such as judo and yoga. These activities will be telecast live through the hospital’s internal television system encouraging all inpatients and out-patients to enjoy the performances.
“Art acts as a complementary medicine to valuable conventional medicine. While conventional medicine focuses on treating the body's diseases, it does not treat the patient's emotions and mind. This is where art can help. Art helps patients distract themselves from ailments, express their feelings, and for some, recover and heal faster” remarked Associate Professor Philip Choo, Chief Medical Board, Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
The article "The Art of Healing", which was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)(vol. 281, no.19, pp.1779-1781). in May 1999, gives examples of what images and creative environments can do. Articles in medical journals such as JAMA have researched the correlation between using art and how that effects persons' blood pressure, health status and length of hospital stay.
Nature imagery reduces anxiety and relaxes patients. This makes them more receptive and responsive to treatment.
Viewing nature imagery also reduces systolic blood pressure and pulse, helps to redirect negative thought and sustains interest, while decreasing boredom, reducing intake of pain medication and length of hospital stays.
Roger Ulrich, PhD, director and professor of the Center of Health Systems and Design in the College of Architecture at Texas A & M University, conducted experiments in which he measured the effects of art on medical outcomes.
In his research, he makes the important distinction that not all art can benefit patients. Only "psychologically appropriate art" can benefit patients by improving blood pressure, anxiety, intake of pain medication and length of hospital stay. His study also shows that some art styles aren't right in health care setting because they can have negative effects on patients.
Through the use of art to promote healing of patients, the programme’s vision of adding years of healthy life to the community is further strengthened.
Issued by the Corporate Communications department, Tan Tock Seng Hospital. For more information or to request for interviews, please call Farren Fernandez at tel: 6357 8415/ pager: 9802 6811 / e-mail: Farren_Fernandez@ttsh.com.sg
About the National Healthcare Group:
“The National Healthcare Group (NHG) manages:
Four hospitals - Alexandra Hospital, National University Hospital, Tan Tock Seng Hospital and the Institute of Mental Health/Woodbridge Hospital;
The Johns Hopkins Singapore International Medical Centre; one National Centre – National Skin Centre;
The NHGP chain of nine polyclinics - Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Batok, Choa Chu Kang, Clementi, Hougang, Jurong, Toa Payoh, Woodlands, Yishun;
Three specialty institutes - The Cancer Institute, The Eye Institute and The Heart Institute; and
Four Business Divisions - NHG College, NHG Diagnostics, NHG Gulf and NHG Pharmacy.
Our vision is "Adding years of healthy life to the people of Singapore”.
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