breaking news!
“Edie Elkan is a believer in dreams; lost dreams, found dreams, and impossible dreams”—so begins the first chapter of a just-published book, Coming Home to Yourself: Eighteen Wise Women Reflect on their Journeys, by Patricia Gottlieb Shapiro, MSW.
Click on our Facebook link (on the right, just under our Special Moment of the Week) and view our wonderful photos from our 2010 graduation.
welcome!
Since 2002 Bedside Harp®, the first ever exclusively hospital-hosted, evidence-based harp therapy training and certification program, has been dedicated to promoting our field by providing service and training programs of excellence, ever raising the bar, setting the highest standards for ourselves, our students and our graduates. Read what our host hospitals say about the difference we make in their facilities and read, too, what the patients say, what visitors say, what staff says, what our students say and what our graduates say about our work, our programs, and their journeys with us.
Our mission is to promote the therapeutic use of the harp in healthcare. Committed to making a difference in that setting, we are proud that, between February 2002 and December 2009, we have:
- Delivered a five-minute or longer harp therapy session to 44,542 patients at the five hospitals that have hosted our programs!
- Played 11,433 documented hours of therapeutic harp in those hospitals!
- Taught 565 people, aged 8 to 80+, who never before played the harp, to play for their own healing and enjoyment!
- Graduated 59 Certified Harp Therapists hailing from all over the United States. Thirty-four, or 58% of them went on to achieve their Mastery levels of certification with us!
- Graduated 6 Certified Instructional Mentors from our newest teacher’s certification program!
- Awarded $10,913.12 in instructional and certification scholarships!
- Completed three formal research projects — one of which earned us international acclaim!
- Been recognized and honored by all five of our host hospitals, Bucks County Community College, the Society of the Arts in Healthcare, Johnson & Johnson and healthcare professionals throughout our nation for our comprehensive training, high standards, groundbreaking research, integrity, collaborative spirit and good works!
latest numbers
| -- 2010 -- | July | YTD |
|---|---|---|
| Number of patients in our host hospitals who received live harp therapy sessions lasting 5 or more minutes | 991 | 6237 |
| Number of hours of live harp therapy delivered to patients, their loved ones, staff and doctors at our host hospitals | 222.75 | 1068.75 |
special moment
of the week
A Harp Therapy Session to Remember
The patient invited me into this room.
announcements
Bucks Now Offering 12 College Music Credits!
Bucks County Community College now awarding Bedside Harp mastery level grads 12 College music credits!
Celebrate!
Next Sunday, August 15th, our official piper, Jamie Bryson, will lead nine wonderful, newly certified harp therapists and master harp therapists down the aisle of the auditorium of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton’s Center for Health and Wellness.
Summer Intensive is Back in ‘11
You’ve asked for it—we heard you. Our Summer Harp Therapy Certification Intensive is back!
Eastern Regional Medical Center becomes our 6th Host Hospital!
We are thrilled that on June 1st, the Eastern Regional Medical Center of Cancer Treatment Centers of America, in Philadelphia, becomes the sixth hospital to host our programs.
Edie Healthcare Heroes of New Jersey Finalist
It’s official—nominated by Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, Edie Elkan, Founding President of Bedside Harp, has been named a 2010 Healthcare Heroes of New Jersey finalist in the Volunteer category!
Famed Celtic Harper Pat Stebbins Comes to Bedside Harp!
All are welcome to join us on Saturday May 1st at The Valley Hospital or Sunday May 2nd in Bensalem for a celtic workshop, lunch and a traditional harp circle. Tuition is $50.00 for a day of great fun and learning. Call 215-752-7599 for further details and to register.
Register now for our newest Online Research Offering!
Register now for our mastery level course, Conversations on Research for Harp Therapists, open to all musicians who play in healthcare.
Two New Blessing Traditions
This Valentine’s Day we’ll kick off two new features on this blog—once a month, on the 14th, we invite you to send us a list of those people and things in your life for which you are grateful—your blessings. The next day, on the 15th of every month beginning February 15, 2010, we invite you to write a letter of thanks to someone you care about, someone who has made your life sweeter. You can share your thoughts on doing this or even share your letter. Know that by participating, you’ll bless us and all of our readers.
Special Moments
What happens in a harp therapy session? Our professional and intern harp therapists take you into the room with their compelling documentation. Click on “Harp Therapy” on the bar above and then, go to the left toolbar and click on “Special Moments” to learn, first hand, what we do and how we do it. Be sure to check back often—we’ll be updating these pages frequently.
Happy, Happy 8th Birthday, BEDSIDE HARP!!
Eight years ago, on February 4th, only months after the tragedy of September 11, 2001, a new star named Bedside Harp came into being.
New Blog coming January 9th!
For the past two months Edie has been receiving such positive feedback from our grads and interns on her morning reflections that she’s been posting in our certification program’s private chat room, she’s now agreed to share them with the world. Check back with us on January 9th to witness the launching of our new blog where you will be able to read and comment on them every day.
Transforming the Healthcare Experience Through the Arts
Transforming the Healthcare Experience Through the Arts written by Blair L. Sadler and Annette Ridenour, has just been published. And within the section entitled, “Exemplary Arts Programs,” is a beautiful 4-page spread on Bedside Harp, telling our story, quoting patients, pictures, even an excerpt from our Oath of Service!!
New Online Offering!
“Conversations on Ethics for Harp Therapists,” a new online offering through Bucks County Community College, mentored by Edie Elkan, is open to all harp therapists and therapeutic musicians. It is one of the required courses for our mastery level of certification.
In Memoriam:
Our dear Gladys Steward passed away Friday, October 2nd, 2009. Our thoughts are with her family and friends.
Jan is back
Our dear Jan is back home, and we are so very grateful!!!
Approval for groundbreaking stroke study
Our groundbreaking stroke study has been granted final IRB approval! We’ll start the clinical portion at Abington Memorial Hospital in late July.
Edie on the radio
Listen to Edie on Tuesday May 26, 2009, 12:30 PM EDT, WHYY-radio’s project: “Coming of Age,” 90.9 FM in the Philadelphia area or push the “Listen Live” link. If you miss the broadcast, listen to it online.
photo by Jessica Kourkounis, courtesy of WHYY