Music therapy makes mood mellow at Desert Regional
At Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, a group of volunteers has been *instrumental* in creating an atmosphere where people can heal.
Professionally trained at Beth Israel Hospital in New York, one of the most highly-accredited programs in the United States, Keith and Jen Wenzel tour DRMC playing easy listening music for patients, visitors, and staff.
“We had babies that had head traumas,” explains Keith, recalling his time at Beth Israel, “and a certain tone would address that. If they had a stomach ache, there was another tone for that. It’s amazing what notes will do, what words will do, what music will do.”
The Wenzels played everything from James Taylor to The Beatles for the Aguilar family, whose son, Augustine, is in the Neonatal ICU (NICU).
“It was amazing,” says mom Maritza. “It was really calming, because when you’re in here, no one really wants to be in here, but with the music it’s calming and comfortable.”
Chief Nursing Officer Kristin Schmidt got on board with Jen Wenzel’s proposal for the program, saying she’s seen Environmental Music Therapy succeed at other hospitals and universities.
“If you think about people who come into the hospital, a lot of times their lives are in chaos,” she says, listening to Jen’s mom play piano in the lobby. “They’re in pain — whether it’s emotional pain or physical pain.”
Schmidt says a few melodies can create a sweet harmony in the body.
“It’s been shown that it will decrease hypertension, high blood pressure, all of the vital signs of the patients have been shown to get better with environmental music.”
The Wenzels travel to four or five floors every Wednesday, spending a few hours singing and strumming to patients of all ages. The couple is looking to expand the program, saying gratification is payment enough.
“We see a difference,” says Keith, holding his ukelele, strumming “You are my Sunshine” with Jen. “With the babies we see a quietness; we’ll see a hand move, and that’s gratifying… Even if they don’t understand the words, they hear the melody or strumming, or the particular tone in this one is giving.”
Jen says you don’t have to know how to play an instrument to volunteer. She says the most powerful instrument is your voice.
Visit http://www.desertregional.com/en-US/ourServices/hospitalServices/Pages/VolunteerServices.aspx to contact Volunteer Services at Desert Regional Medical Center, and ask about the Environmental Music Therapy program.
