Spreading the music love: Swedish Music Therapy Program expands

December 2, 2016 Swedish Blogger

Music

Swedish is pleased to announce the expansion of the music therapy (MT) program at the Swedish Cancer Institute (SCI) and the Swedish Multiple Sclerosis Center (MS Center). In October 2016, the Wilson Trust Music Therapy Project, a project of the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA), awarded a $56,875 matching grant to the Swedish Medical Center Foundation. The award will be used to increase and develop music therapy services over the next two years to 27 hours of weekly music therapy programming at First Hill, Cherry Hill, Edmonds and Issaquah.


The MT program provides services to patients, family members and caregivers of those living with or caring for individuals with cancer or neurologic diagnosis. The goal of the MT program is to increase clients’ awareness and ability to cope with their diagnosis, treatment plan and prognosis. Additionally, the program supports patients with neurologic disorders addressing motor, speech and language, and cognitive goals. Currently, the MT program is housed under the Supportive Care Services department at SCI and functions as part of an interdisciplinary team, providing holistic, patient-centered care.

Although the program has come a long way in the past two years, there is still growth that needs to occur. Currently at 19 hours per week, the MT program is nearly at capacity, leading three weekly groups, providing outpatient one-to one support, and following individuals during their inpatient stay. The program requires additional support to continue to meet patient demand; we confidently step into the new year believing that this growth will happen!

To learn more about the music therapy program or to participate, please call 206-386-6711.

If you would like to consider donating to the music therapy program, please call the Swedish Medical Center Foundation at 206-386-2738 or visit www.swedishfoundation.org.

This article is from the Winter 2016 issue of Life to the Fullest, the newsletter from the Swedish Cancer Institute dedicated to those with cancer, cancer survivors, and their family members and caregivers.

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