How to Receive the Gift of Art4Health
HOW TO BECOME A RECIPIENT
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Your donation department will be invited to become a recipient of Art4Health donations. When contacted, you will be asked to answer 5 questions (or you can reach out to us through the contact form below) and provide the following information:
• Your Institution
• Your Name and Contact Information
• Number of Non-ICU Beds
• Approximate Number of Annual
In-Patients (ages 2-17)
• Art Size Preference
(18 x 24 or 36 x 24)
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DONATION​ PROCESS & REQUIREMENTS
Once we have the information needed to evaluate the scope of your Art4Health program and an acceptance agreement is completed, your hospital is placed on our recipient list. Recipients are prioritized on a first come basis
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Depending on the number of your non-ICU beds, you will receive in-room patient artworks in managed 'lots' to be installed when rooms are vacant. (Ease of installation guaranteed.)
As a vital part of our program, Art4Health requires a photo be taken (cell phones work just fine) documenting each installation before another lot can be distributed to you.
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Patient Care Items are allocated based on annual in-patient admittance and are shipped quarterly.
Problem |
does patient room
design matter?
It's possible you may have observed how hospital room design leans towards practicality . . . sometimes at the expense of patient comfort. It wasn’t always this way.. In the 1800’s, hospitals were designed with wide-open window spaces because people thought better ventilation meant better patient health. In the 1940’s, the Double Pavilion plan was introduced and became popular - but at the cost of removing windows.
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Forty years later, in 1984, Dr. Roger Ulrich conducted a study revealing that patients who had access to views of nature experienced improved outcomes, with fewer complaints, reduced medication usage, and shorter hospital stays (compared to those with views of blank walls). Given the current focus on issues related to pain medication use, Dr. Ulrich's research has gained fresh significance.
The growing field of neuroaesthetics* is yielding compelling evidence that both views of nature, as well as art that depicts nature, can have powerful therapeutic applications in healthcare settings. Numerous studies (see The Science) have confirmed that exposure to art can provide significant benefits for patients, such as: alleviating anxiety, reducing the perception of pain, and facilitating physical, mental, and emotional recovery.
While numerous hospitals acknowledge the value of integrating neuroaesthetic principles into healthcare environments, they grapple with a host of complex challenges. These challenges include financial constraints, staffing shortages, supporting rapid technological advancements, and the delicate balance between meeting patient needs and economic realities. The COVID-19 pandemic added an extra layer of complexity to these issues. Consequently, funds designated for the arts are primarily allocated to substantial facility renovations, impressive art installations, and the incorporation of commissioned original artworks in public areas. This often leaves individual patient rooms, where exposure to art can offer the greatest benefits, with limited attention and resources.
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* Neuroaesthetics is a field that studies how our brains respond to art and other aesthetic experiences.
Solution |
by getting art into patient rooms, the benefits are felt where they’re most needed
The Art4Health mission is simple: by getting art into patient rooms, the benefits are felt where they're most needed. Art4Health has developed an economical solution to humanizing healthcare environments through: 1) in-room fine art print programs and 2) integrated patient comfort items.
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Patients report that the nonclinical experience is twice as important as clinical reputations in making hospital choices. A small dose of comfort and care goes a long way when someone is going through some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Studies have shown that environment matters. When care is given to a patient’s surroundings, stress levels are reduced and blood pressure, heart rate and muscle tension is lowered. Patients recover faster and their health outcomes improve.
In 1984, biologist Edward O. Wilson introduced the concept of “biophilia”, arguing that a connection to nature is crucial for our physical and mental well-being. There are two ways we experience nature - directly and indirectly. Biophilic design in healthcare often relies on ‘indirect’ exposure since patients are typically restricted to indoor environments. However, a total redesign of your facility isn’t necessary for patients to reap the benefits of a biophilic approach. By adding finished art prints and in-room comfort items, Art4Health can transform bare rooms into more welcoming healing spaces.