Gravemann: I think anything that we can do to help the patients feel more comfortable during their stay, then as a whole, affects the happiness and the health of the whole unit.
Narrator: This is the "Mayo Clinic Employee Experiences" podcast, where we build trust and belonging through the authentic storytelling of our Mayo Clinic staff. In this episode, you will hear Robin, an artist, and Erin, a social worker, discuss how their experience in creating art fosters healing and builds connections with patients.
Anderson: I am the artist at the bedside; the visual artist. I've been doing this for nearly four years now. The Arts at the Bedside program started back in 2006 with visual art, and through the years, we've also had Music at the Bedside and Creative Writing at the Bedside, which we just recently reinstated in our program. My role is to meet with patients and offer art supplies and projects. Also, I have created videos so that patients have projects that they can view right from their TV in their room and have art kits that they can use to be able to complete those projects on their own.
Gravemann: I’m a social worker on the inpatient side. I'm primarily on a hematology unit, so many of my patients that we have are coming in with a new diagnosis, some with more of a chronic diagnosis. But typically, the patients that I'm working with are here in the hospital for a month or more. That's often just a non-negotiable, so there's a lot of adjustment that comes with that for patients and for their families.
I certainly try to utilize Robin and her services as much as possible for patients while they're here to try to enhance the experience that they have and try to help with their adjustment.
Anderson: How have you seen that play a part in the healing for the patients that you offer art kits to or put in a consult order for personal visits?
Gravemann: The patients that I'm working with often, part of my conversation with them, and I certainly don't see every single patient, one of the questions we try to ask is, “What are the things that you like to do outside the hospital?” or “What are the meaningful ways you like to spend your time when you're not here?” Often, it is, “Oh, I love crafting,” or “I love spending time with my grandkids,” or “crocheting,” or “painting.” I’m trying to investigate how we can help make this time that you're spending in the hospital a little bit easier for you.
Then, when you add in the component of the caregivers and families who come to visit but that maybe aren't comfortable here in the hospital, I try to offer the art kits to make them feel more comfortable.
Anderson: And I've discovered that same thing when I'm working with patients individually that being able to offer them something to be able to help them pass the time or think about something other than what's going on around them in a hospital room; it seems to be a very positive thing, even with people who have never done art before. It seems that just having that distraction can really help a lot. Even though it's just for 15-20 minutes, maybe half an hour, it seems to make a big difference in their day. Have you noticed that?
Gravemann: Yeah, I remember Christmas time. There was a patient who was really struggling because one thing she always did during that time was make cookies with her grandkids, and they had a whole afternoon. So, instead, they made a little date where her granddaughters came up, and they did the kit that afternoon where they would otherwise be making their cookies and doing their holiday baking.
Anderson: That's cool.
Gravemann: We do things like that often – try to exchange what maybe you would normally be doing for something else. For me, anyways, that was a nice option.
Anderson: Yeah, I have a similar experience that you just described. I had been working with the woman doing art with her, and then she became part of the Hospice program at Mayo. When I went to visit with her, she was not able to participate, but her family and grandchildren - and there were quite a few of them - were all hanging out in the family waiting area. One of the nurses said, “Could you please go in and maybe do art with them?” And I said, “Of course.” I went into the room and did art with all these grandkids. They all settled down, and their focus was to make something for Grandma, and I think they all felt really good about being able to make something for their grandma, and the parents were very grateful as well. But I have so many memorable moments.
A patient that I worked with was waiting for a heart transplant – she had been waiting for at least a month when I started visiting with her. She tried all different kinds of art. She was very happy to have something to do, and when I offered her the polymer clay, she just went crazy with it and started making all this jewelry. It just really motivated her and kept her going. And I remember when I stepped into her room after she had finally gotten the heart transplant, and she was hugging her heart, and looking at me and smiling. She just points to me and mouths the words, “Thank you.” I just walked away, and I started crying, and I was like, “Wow!” It was so cool.
There's another patient I worked with, too, that comes to mind. When I walked in, she was holding her stomach. She was in so much pain, and she was a cancer patient, and when I offered her an art experience, she was like, “Oh, I just don't think that I can do it today.” And I said, “Well, how about if I make something for you, and you don't have to do anything.” She agreed to that. Then, as I was starting to make this paper flower that's very popular, I asked her if she gardened at all and what was her favorite flower, and she immediately lit up. She pulls out her phone and started showing me all these pictures of her incredibly beautiful garden. Thirty minutes go by of her telling me about her garden and I'm making this flower and afterwards she says, “I can't believe I, I don't, I didn't feel pain that whole time. How did? How did that happen?” She was so happy that it distracted her from her pain. Lots of stories like that.
What advice do you have for people who might want to or are thinking about helping their patients engage in this program?
Gravemann: It's been maybe just two or three years since I learned about your program and the service available. Another coworker had sent me the information, and I shared it with everybody. Sharing that information with the nurses station or the units that we’re on, because although we see a lot of people, we don't certainly see everybody. So, I always want my nurses to know that even though I'm not seeing this patient, it's still a resource that's available. You can still provide these art kits or put in that consult for Robin. As I've had new coworkers start here and join our group, I always make sure I show them how to get the art kits and to put in that consult for you because I think it's certainly a resource that obviously not only helps the patients, but it also helps the staff on the unit because if the patients are doing better than everybody's doing better.
Anderson: Yes.
Gravemann: I think it's a great service to be able to provide.
Anderson: The first year we had art kits we handed out about 500. Last year, we handed out 2,000 art kits, so they have really become popular. The art kits have been so popular that we had a request from the Gift of Life House, and they were so excited about offering art. They now have their own supply of art kits that they put together. They buy their supplies, but they use the same videos that I created, so that's pretty cool. Word is spreading.
Gravemann: Do you see the program expanding to other areas in the future?
Anderson: Yes. We are expanding beyond patient care. We're expanding into staff areas to be able to support them with their well-being, using art as well.
I've done probably six different sessions with nurses over the last couple of weeks.It's called Art for Well-Being, and it's an hour-long project that we work on with groups of nurses making origami butterflies. On the back of each sheet, they write something they want to do to improve or help their personal well-being. Then we make the butterflies, and they can hang it up. It's a reminder of their goals for their personal well-being.
It's really awesome that our program is growing and expanding.
Narrator: Thank you both for sharing your perspectives with us. Robin, your creativity in connecting with patients while mindfully crafting a healing experience is exceptional. Erin, your attentiveness to patients’ needs and knowledge of the resources available to enhance their experience is inspiring. Sharing stories like these increases our understanding of one another and ultimately contributes to finding connections, belonging and inclusion at work. For more stories, subscribe to "Mayo Clinic Employee Experiences" on popular podcast apps.