Martica Lambiase and Judy Spiegel discuss the Arts at Erlanger program during the Healthcare Facilities Symposium in Austin, Tx.
Representatives from this year’s national Healthcare Facilities Symposium and Expo (HFSE) in Austin, Tx., honored Erlanger East Hospital with the User-Center Award for the hospital’s recent addition and renovation with HKS, Inc.
The User-Centered Award recognizes projects or facilities that balance the requirements of patients, their families and the practitioners.
The new Erlanger East Hospital, completed in 2016, gained national recognition for the innovative design and initiative as a lifestyle hospital. Arts at Erlanger co-chairs, Judy Spiegel and Martica Lambiase, attend the symposium on behalf of Erlanger East Hospital and the Arts at Erlanger program.
“We are very proud that in two short years Arts at Erlanger projects have received two national awards,” said Ms. Lambiase. “We thank members of the selection committee for recognizing the amazing work the group has done to make a difference at Erlanger Health System.”
While attending the symposium, Ms. Spiegel and Ms. Lambiase also presented a lecture discussing how to create an art program in a public hospital. The presentation, “Volunteers Transforming a Public Hospital Into A Healing Environment,” included topics such as how to recruit volunteers, the importance of visionary leadership, how to recruit and foster relationships with the artists and best practices for choosing the art.
“We have accomplished so much with our incredible volunteer committee,” said Ms. Spiegel. “None of this could have happened without their hard work and dedication. Our volunteers are the heroes of the whole program.”
The purpose of art in the hospital setting goes far beyond decoration. Recent studies show a direct link between art and the brain’s reaction to pain, stress and anxiety. A 2011 University of London study found that blood flow increased 10 percent to the “joy response” part of the brain when subjects saw a beautiful painting. The Arts at Erlanger program seeks to preserve and expand the healing, uplifting, and therapeutic art at all Erlanger Health System facilities.
Earlier this year, the Lyndhurst Foundation awarded Arts at Erlanger a $25,000 gift for art in the new Children’s Outpatient Center. The grant was given in honor of Martha Joan Clark, mother of the Lyndhurst Foundation President and CEO Benic M. Clark III. The program is set to receive a second grant for art in the Cancer Center lobby.
In 2015, Ms. Spiegel and Ms. Lambiase established the Arts at Erlanger program with the mission to bring the healing power of art to the health system. With a committee of volunteers, the program has grown to become a nationally recognized art program earning prestigious awards and grants. The first award was received in 2015 when the Society of American Mosaic Artists awarded the chapel as one of the ten best public mosaics in architecture. For more information please visit www.erlanger.org/artsaterlanger.