Program Model Resources

Calhoun Liberty Arts in Medicine Program:

Through a partnership between Calhoun-Liberty Hospital and the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce, a program was launched in Calhoun County in February of 2011. The Calhoun-Liberty Arts in Medicine program includes bedside arts programs focused primarily on long-term stay, or “swing-bed”, patients. Community artists have been trained to work with these patients and to facilitate programs in the community that are designed to enhance community engagement and encourage healthy lifestyle choices.

As a result of positive patient feedback and recognition of the fiscal benefits of the program (patients are choosing to stay at Calhoun-Liberty because of the art program when they would normally transfer to a rehabilitation facility outside of the area), the hospital has hired a full-time coordinator for the program and has added a line item to its annual budget to support artist in residence wages on an ongoing basis. Artists will be employed, not just contracted, by the hospital beginning this fiscal year to provide daily bedside services. The hospital has also partnered with the local library to reduce art supply costs through shared bulk ordering and has been given – free of cost for three years– a prominent corner building to use as a community art gallery.

Resources