Beeping heart monitors and whirring medical equipment, the abrupt interruption of intercom alarms as busy footsteps hurry from room to room—those are the sounds that hospitals make.
But that’s not all.
Something serene, smooth, shimmering and almost magical sounding is coming from the halls at The University of New Mexico Sandoval Regional Medical Center – A Campus of UNM Hospital (SRMC).
It’s the sound of a harp being played by therapeutic musician Sue Hoadley.
Therapeutic music is designed to entrain and resonate with the individual patient and help them calm down. If the patient is in a lot of pain, there's a certain kind of music to help alleviate pain. If a person is depressed or sad, there's a different kind of music you play for that patient.
- Sue Hoadley, Certified Music Practitioner, SRMC
“I’ve been playing here at SRMC for three years now, and I’ve been doing therapeutic music for 25 years,” says Hoadley.
Hoadley is a Certified Music Practitioner (CMP) who uses her musical talents to soothe and comfort patients. What started out as a new hobby in her 50’s, turned into a real calling.
“I began reading about the therapeutic benefits of music,” she says. “And I was very drawn to the healing arts.”
So, she decided to go to school to become certified in therapeutic music. She received specialized training through the Music for Healing and Transitions Program (MHTP), an organization that trains and certifies musicians in the art and science of therapeutic music.
Now Hoadley performs weekly at SRMC as part of the hospital’s Arts-in-Medicine program. The Arts-in-Medicine program first started at UNM Hospital nearly a decade ago to encourage healing through creative arts for both patients and staff, including therapeutic music. SRMC launched the program at its campus about three years ago.
“We wanted to create a relaxing environment that enhances healing for our patients and also promotes well-being for our team,” says SRMC President, Jamie Silva-Steele. “Being a patient and also working in a hospital can be stressful. This is one way we can provide additional support to our team and the community we serve.”
Several studies have shown music can have positive impacts on both mental and physical health including regulating heart rate, improving motor skills, stimulating brain function and benefiting the immune system. Hoadley says therapeutic music is much more than just playing something pretty.
“It is designed to entrain and resonate with the individual patient and help them calm down,” she says. “If the patient is in a lot of pain, there's a certain kind of music to help alleviate pain. If a person is depressed or sad, there's a different kind of music you play for that patient.”
Hoadley remembers a time working at another hospital when she was called by staff into the recovery room where a man was just waking up from surgery.
“He was from the Middle East, just coming out of anesthesia, and he had no language connection with English. He was absolutely distraught,” she says. “He couldn't put his head down on the pillow. He was thrashing in the bed, and I quickly put my harp in a Middle Eastern tuning. And as soon as I started playing in that scale, in that type of music, he looked over at me, gave a huge sigh, put his head back on the pillow and closed his eyes. It was amazing.”
When arriving to play for patients at SRMC, Hoadley says she often first checks with the charge nurse on the floor to see if there’s a patient or family member who needs comfort.
“A lot of times I’ll get my clues from the medical staff,” she says, “But also when I'm in the space of the individual patient, I observe their respiration rate, their heart rate; what's their blood pressure, what's their oxygen level? Do I need to calm this patient down? Or do I need to energize? Sometimes the patient will tell me, but mostly it's from quiet, careful observance.”
That quiet and careful observance continues to make a significant impact on patients and staff at SRMC.
Being a patient and also working in a hospital can be stressful. This is one way we can provide additional support to our team and the community we serve.
- Jamie Silva-Steele, SRMC President
“We are so grateful for her talent,” Silva-Steele says. “She works very collaboratively with our team to identify the patients who need her skills. She has been known to help some of our most anxious patients drift off to sleep. Our team also looks forward to her visits. Sue brings something special for all of us when she comes to SRMC.”
About SRMC Arts-in-Medicine Program
In addition to bringing therapeutic music to patients and staff, the Arts-in-Medicine program at SRMC also supports some of Rio Rancho’s young aspiring artists. Student art from Colinas Del Norte Elementary is featured and rotated three times a year on the 3rd floor of the hospital and inside the UNM Center of Excellence. Arts-in-Medicine also hosts well-being events for hospital staff. The program relies entirely by donations through the UNM Foundation. Click here to donate!
