Changing Perceptions: Contemporary Artworks in a Healthcare Environment

“Patients First” has always been Cleveland Clinic‘s guiding principle. A place for experimentation and innovation, the leading medical institution constantly seeks to improve patient outcomes. Their Art Program does just that.

Established in 2006 “to enrich, inspire and enliven patients, visitors, employees and the community,” the Program added 3,000 artworks to the Clinic’s existing eclectic collection. Today, over 5,000 artworks in all media: prints, works on paper, photography, sculpture, and video fill in the Clinic’s 23.5 million square feet of real estate.

“Art provides color and warmth, distraction from personal anxiety, Joanne Cohen, Executive Director and Curator of the Cleveland Clinic Art Program told E4H. “It provides moments of levity, lightheartedness and beauty. It alleviates stress and ameliorates patients’ experience.”

Wayfinding is another consideration. The clinic often uses art as a navigational tool. People come in. They are stressed. They can’t remember how to find the doctor, where the emergency room is or where they are parked. Art can help them find their way.

In addition, all studies performed at Cleveland Clinic related to the therapeutic benefits of art revealed its positive impact on patients’ stress, their comfort levels and overall satisfaction.

“Most people said their mood had been somewhat, if not significantly, improved by interacting with the artwork,” she added. “Hopefully this mood improvement will lead to shorter hospital stays and less need for paid medication. In any case, anything we can do to give patients something else to look at or to think about, distract them and take them out of that difficult moment is a win-win situation.”