June 23, 2006

Musical Medicine for Health Care Professionals

DAVENPORT, Iowa – According to June’s Journal of Advanced Nursing, adults with chronic pain reported less pain, depression, disability, and felt more energized after listening to music, of any kind, for an hour each day during a one-week study.

The research found during this study is not entirely new. Researchers have been studying the effects of musical therapy for years, and the therapy is becoming more and more popular.

Genesis Cancer Center and Genesis Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation department will sponsor a seminar on the use of musical therapy in a health care environment.

The event will be held at Adler Health Education Center at Genesis Medical Center, 1227 E. Rusholme St., Davenport on July 22 from 7:15 am - 3:15 pm.

The course will provide participants with the skills required to implement passive music or sound therapy in a health care setting. Topics will include the effect of music and sound on the mind, body, emotions, and spiritual well being of health care patients.

For those who arrive early, two Klini SoundWave chairs will be available to try. These chairs are specially designed to use sound and vibration to bring clients to a rapid level of relaxation. The chairs are being provided by Tom Dodd from 7:00 am - 4:30 pm.

Suzanne E. Jonas, EdD, will lead the seminar. She holds a doctorate in counseling psychology and creative therapies. She also has training in guided imagery and music, bioacoustics, and hemi-sync.

Jonas has spent 20 years researching and practicing music medicine with a wide variety of patients. Currently, she trains teachers, health care workers, and business personnel in the use of music and sound for stress and symptom reduction. According to her research, this increases whole brain learning, healing, and productivity. Jonas maintains a private behavioral medicine practice, Music and Medicine in Maryville, TN.

This course is intended for nurses, chaplains, pastoral counselors, mental health professionals, ministers, massage therapists, chiropractors, and anyone else interested in the use of music as an adjunct to patient care.

The cost of general registration is $50. For Genesis Health System employees and full-time students, the cost is $40. Cost will be $45 after July 17.

Registration includes course materials, continental breakfast and lunch.

To register, call Anne Pauly, Genesis Medical Center Education Department, (563) 421-2282.

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