Music Therapy in Hospitals
Music therapy is widely used in hospitals around the world to improve treatment outcomes for both patients and staff. Studies have demonstrated that its benefits range from increased motivation and good mood to improved cognitive functioning.
Medical settings often utilize music as a form of relaxation and analgesic usage, reduce pain perception and analgesic usage, lower heart rate and respiratory rate, as well as increase positive emotional reactions to treatment. Studies have demonstrated this connection.
One music therapy session can significantly reduce physiological signs of anxiety in patients transitioning away from mechanical ventilation.
Music therapists are specially trained to assess and meet patients’ musical needs through musical responses. They create tailored music sessions for individuals or groups based on those individual requirements, which may include improvisation, receptive music listening, song writing, lyric discussion, as well as performance of selected pieces of music.
Therapists may conduct interdisciplinary treatment planning and participate in ongoing evaluation and follow up. Their role is to collaborate with the patient and team to decide on an appropriate frequency of sessions.
Doctors frequently refer their patients to music therapists in order to assist them cope with illness or injury. Many clinicians have experienced the benefits of music therapy firsthand, and understand its power to bring comfort and healing.
Therefore, many hospitals now employ music therapists, such as those at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital and other major medical facilities. In some instances, music therapy is even reimbursable under Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) insurance coverage.
Consultation-liaison psychiatry, a specialty that provides treatment to medical and surgical patients with concurrent mental health issues, includes music therapists as an integral component of the team. They collaborate closely with both medical and surgical teams to identify those patients who could benefit from music therapy services. The therapist’s notes on these patients are recorded in the chart during consultation rounds, and they make recommendations to the team about which new patients might benefit from this type of treatment.
Music therapy in consultation-liaison psychiatry is often provided as either a stand-alone treatment or adjunct to other pharmacological interventions for psychological adjustment. The music therapist’s aim is to increase the patient’s capacity to express emotions and feelings related to hospitalization or surgery through verbal or nonverbal methods such as songwriting, lyric discussion, or musical improvisation.
Music therapy in consultation-liaison psychiatry entails accompanying the team on rounds, providing input and feedback about patient progress as well as how sessions have gone. The therapist is also available to answer any queries or worries the team may have regarding the patient.
Music therapy in consultation-liaison Psychiatry is an efficient and cost-effective way to provide emotional support for hospitalized patients. Additionally, it gives staff members a chance to get to know patients on a more personal level; many report enjoying having this chance for interaction in a more relaxed setting.