Music Therapy

The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, is launching one of the country’s first statewide partnerships using creative arts therapies to support the well-being and resiliency of health care workers.

HAP’s Music Therapy Collaborative

HAP’s Music Therapy Collaborative provides eligible hospitals with an opportunity to support the resiliency and well-being of their workforce through music therapy.

Penn State Health


Selected hospitals work directly with board certified music therapists to design programs specific to their hospital’s needs. Programs are focused on and benefit the health and wellbeing of the health care workers who have been on the front lines of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

HAP is the lead facilitator and manages the initiative. The collaborative will be initiated in three phases across the state of Pennsylvania. 

Program applications are processed by the Pennsylvania Music Therapy Task Force, and HAP awards $25,000 grants to five eligible hospitals in each phase of the program.

Pottstown Hospital - Tower Health


Hospital initiatives can serve:

  • The hospital-wide workforce
  • One unit at a time
  • One department at a time

Planning and Implementing HAP's Music Therapy Collaborative

Music therapy: AHA poster presentation

Elizabeth (Beth) Murray, M.Ed., RN, MCHES, HN-BC, readmissions project manager, and Mary Marshall, senior director, workforce and professional development, shared a poster presentation at the American Hospital Association’s Advancing Care Conference in Chicago during March about the planning and implementation of the music therapy collaborative.

What is Music Therapy?

Music therapy: Young woman playing a guitar

Music Therapy program at Pottstown Hospital - Tower Health.

Music therapy involves the structured use of music and music interventions to help reduce stress and anxiety, release tension, improve mood, enhance confidence, and address other physical and mental health/emotional concerns.

Board-certified music therapists (MT-BC) select from a variety of activities when working with individuals, such as:

  • Listening to music
  • Playing an instrument
  • Writing songs
  • Using guided imagery

Music therapy can be successful with individuals of all ages and helps to address a myriad of health issues.

Caring for Pennsylvania's Health Care Workers

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, hospital and health care workers are reporting increased stress and anxiety, with some experiencing long-term exhaustion, depression, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. 

HAP's new Music Therapy collaborate will focus on:

  • Alleviating excessive stress and burnout among Pennsylvania's health care workers
  • Helping to build a healthy and more resilient health care work force


HAP Contacts:

With questions or for more information, contact Elizabeth (Beth) Murray, M.Ed., RN, MCHES, HN-BC, readmissions project manager, or Mary Marshall, senior director of workforce & professional development. Media inquiries should be directed to Chris Daley, vice president, strategic communications.

 


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