‘Social Prescribing’ program takes new approach to healthcare
TO EXPLAIN HOW THIS WORKS. RHONDELLA MARIA. WELCOME TO THE COMMUNITY MUSIC CENTER OF BOSTON. THIS PLACE WELCOMED ABOUT A DOZEN KIDS AND ADULTS FOR THE PILOT PROGRAM. OKAY, IMAGINE YOU HAD SOME HAND DEXTERITY ISSUES AND THE DOCTOR SAID, GO GET YOURSELF SOME GUITAR OR SOME PIANO LESSONS FOR A RHYMNEY. AND WHAT IF YOU’RE JUST SUFFERING FROM THE BLUES? WHY NOT JOIN THE ART SCENE? THE ARTS AND TRADITIONAL MEDICINE ARE WORKING FROM THE SAME SHEET OF MUSIC. THE HIGH PROFILE POPS AND THE COMMUNITY MUSIC CENTER CAN ALL EXPECT A NEW AUDIENCE COMING THANKS TO A DOCTOR’S NOTE. MASSACHUSETTS IS THE FIRST STATEWIDE ARTS PRESCRIPTION PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY. MASS GENERAL BRIGHAM IS THE FIRST HEALTH CARE SYSTEM TESTING HOW A DOCTOR’S PRESCRIPTION FOR THE ARTS HELPS SAY HYPERTENSION STRESS CAN RAISE BLOOD PRESSURE. AND CONVERSELY, WHEN WE LOOK AT RESEARCH THAT LOOKS AT WHAT HAPPENS TO BLOOD PRESSURE, TO BREATHING, TO HEART RATE, TO ALL OF THOSE THINGS, WHEN PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES SUCH AS LISTENING TO MUSIC, YOU CAN SEE IT. YOU CAN EVEN MEASURE A DIRECT EFFECT. MICHAEL BABBITT, A PLAYWRIGHT AND DIRECTOR, HELPED SET THE STAGE WITH ATLANTA BASED ART PHARMACY TO ATTRACT VENUES. THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS IS ONE OF MORE THAN 350 PARTICIPATING. I WANT EVERY SINGLE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, EVERY SINGLE PAYER, EVERY SINGLE PATIENT, EVERY SINGLE DOCTOR TO BE AWARE OF THIS PROGRAM. SO THIS CAN SCALE. I THINK THIS IS SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP, LIKE SOME OF THE BEST WE’VE EVER SEEN, LIKE SEATBELTS. WE PROVIDE THEM WITH THE TICKET TO THE THEATER, ACCESS TO A COMPANION TICKET. SO THEY CAN BRING A LOVED ONE OR A COMPANION WITH THEM. SOON AFTERWARD, A DOCTOR CHECKS UP MANAGED CARE ORGANIZATIONS, INSURANCE COMPANIES. THIS IS BEING PAID FOR BY INSURANCE AND A STAFF. HERE IS PUTTING OUT A LITTLE BIT OF A SHOW OF WHAT IS AVAILABLE. MASS GENERAL BRIGHAM WILL BE ROLLING OUT THE PROGRAM TO THOSE IN THEIR JAMAICA PLAIN CLINIC AND THEIR COMMUNITY CENTER, RIGHT AROUND THE LATE SUMMER. AND IF YOU WANT, YOU CAN JUST ASK YOUR DOCTOR TO GIVE YOU THAT NOTE. WE’LL HAVE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE ON HOW ART VENUES AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS CAN JOIN, LIVE I
What is ‘Social Prescribing’? Program takes new approach to physical, mental health
Updated: 5:31 PM EDT Jul 11, 2024
A first-of-its-kind program in Massachusetts is taking a different approach to addressing certain physical and mental health concerns.The program, called “Social Prescribing,” goes beyond medication to incorporate arts and culture into a treatment plan. Mass. General Brigham is the first health care system to test how a doctor’s prescription for art could help a patient with a condition, including hypertension.”Stress can raise blood pressure, and conversely, when we look at research that looks at what happens to blood pressure, to breathing, to heart rate, to all of those things when people participate in activities such as listening to music, you can see it, you can even measure a direct effect,” said Dr. Priscilla Wang, associate medical director of primary care at Mass. General Brigham. Michael Bobbitt, the executive director for the Mass. Cultural Council helped set the stage, with Atlanta-based Art Pharmacy working to recruit venues. The Museum of Fine Arts is one of more than 350 participating organizations. “I want every health care provider, every single payer, every single patient, every single doctor to be aware so it can scale. I think this is social entrepreneurship like some of the best we’ve ever seen — like seatbelts,” said Bobbitt, who added that the cost of the activities is covered by insurance. “We provide them with a ticket to the theater and a companion ticket so they could bring a loved one or a companion with them,” said Chris Appleton, CEO of Art Pharmacy.Mass. General Brigham said it will start rolling out the program to patients at the South Jamaica Plain Health Center and the Brookside Community Health Center.
A first-of-its-kind program in Massachusetts is taking a different approach to addressing certain physical and mental health concerns.
The program, called “Social Prescribing,” goes beyond medication to incorporate arts and culture into a treatment plan. Mass. General Brigham is the first health care system to test how a doctor’s prescription for art could help a patient with a condition, including hypertension.
“Stress can raise blood pressure, and conversely, when we look at research that looks at what happens to blood pressure, to breathing, to heart rate, to all of those things when people participate in activities such as listening to music, you can see it, you can even measure a direct effect,” said Dr. Priscilla Wang, associate medical director of primary care at Mass. General Brigham.
Michael Bobbitt, the executive director for the Mass. Cultural Council helped set the stage, with Atlanta-based Art Pharmacy working to recruit venues. The Museum of Fine Arts is one of more than 350 participating organizations.
“I want every health care provider, every single payer, every single patient, every single doctor to be aware so it can scale. I think this is social entrepreneurship like some of the best we’ve ever seen — like seatbelts,” said Bobbitt, who added that the cost of the activities is covered by insurance.
“We provide them with a ticket to the theater and a companion ticket so they could bring a loved one or a companion with them,” said Chris Appleton, CEO of Art Pharmacy.
Mass. General Brigham said it will start rolling out the program to patients at the South Jamaica Plain Health Center and the Brookside Community Health Center.
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