Music in Medicine, Inc.
Music in Medicine, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit in Florida. It was founded by Adele Jacobson with the primary mission of introducing Citrus County and surrounding areas to the effectiveness of therapeutic music. The second mission is to raise funds to provide scholarships to local musicians to train in this avenue of music. By building a large group of practicing musicians, therapeutic music can become a given commodity in the field of medicine here.
Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) has provided significant grants to assist Music in Medicine in meeting its goals. AFA’s emphasis on caring for people living with dementia fits perfectly with Music in Medicine’s philosophy of optimizing the lives of people it touches. MIM has also received significant grants from the Citrus Memorial Hospital Volunteer Foundation, recognizing the contributions made in improving care for patients countywide.
Music in Medicine currently has five musicians in training. Most have completed the coursework and are eagerly awaiting the opening of hospitals and other facilities so they can complete their internships and certification. Music in Medicine will continue its work in building a core of talented, trained musicians who will work in nursing homes in this rural under-served area. Our seniors (and others) deserved no less.
Adele is leading the development of plans for sustainability of this program after the initial three year grant has expired.
Send in the Music, LLC
Pat Clark, PsyD, CMP has provided activities for elder musicians during the Covid Crisis. Two years ago, Pat started a free weekly, two hour music jam on Zoom for mountain dulcimer players. The jam now draws a crowd of over 100 each week from an international group of dulcimer players, many of whom were isolated and out of touch with their local communities. Through her little company, Send In The Music, Pat has learned the power of Zoom to breach the gap between people, and eradicate distance as a factor. Pat has also used video recordings of the weekly jams, posted for free viewing on the website, to keep those folks who cannot attend on a Saturday, involved in the close knit dulcimer community. Pat believes sharing video recordings of patient music sessions with family members can effectively keep family members close when they cannot visit loved ones confined to nursing homes due to other responsibilities or their own illness. Watching the video becomes a “shared experience.”
Institute for Healing through Sound & Music
Sharon Stoll, CTHP, President of the Institute for Healing through Sound & Music (IHSM), has also provided advisory guidance. IHSM is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization that supports therapeutic musicians of the various certifying programs accredited by the National Standards Board of Therapeutic Musicians (NSBTM). Sharon is currently on the representative council of the NSBTM. She is certified by the International Association of Harp Therapy. IHSM has offered to support the grant effort with dissemination on their website. IHSM may offer continuing education units (CEU) for the Harmonies in Health musicians in the form of additional webinar training with respect to HIPAA compliance and best practices for musicians in medical settings.
Therapeutic Musicians of Coastal Carolina, LLC
Julie Rehder, CMP is currently leading a three year program to bring therapeutic music to ten skilled nursing facilities in coastal Carolina, with the support of the CMS Civil Monetary Penalties Reinvestment Fund. Healing Harmonies is modeling and expanding upon many aspects of the North Carolina program for Florida. Julie has provided advisory guidance and lessons learned to our effort. See videos of the Therapeutic Musicians of Coastal Carolina team here.