Harpist soothes the souls at Libertyville hospital
The hospital nursery was calm and mellow while harpist Joanne Glover played "Let It Be" on a folk harp.
Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville launched the Therapeutic Music Ministry program Wednesday to improve the hospital experience for patients.
According to the hospital, therapeutic music has proved to regulate heart rate and blood pressure, reduce anxiety and muscle tension, and help with pain management.
"I've been a professional harpist since my 20s, but I decided that rather than just playing for entertainment, I wanted my music to be become more of a service," said Glover, a certified music practitioner. "I also play in the ICU (intensive care unit) or for patients that are unconscious and it's meant to create a healing environment. If they can relax and sleep, they can heal faster."
Glover will play at Condell every Wednesday, focusing on the intensive care unit, cardiology, labor and delivery and hospice patients, based on referrals by the nurse managers and chaplains.
"I think she's marvelous and this is beautiful therapy. I wish they would have her here everyday," patient Nancy Bloom of Round Lake said after listening to Glover play "What a Wonderful World" in her hospital room. "This brings back a thousand memories that are really wonderful and not anything to do with the hospital."
The program is completely dependent on donations to the Advocate Charitable Foundation.