Lee Health - Arts in Healthcare: Healing Ceilings

What is it?

Arts in Healthcare at Lee Health links the expressive arts with the healing arts to provide relief for patients, families, visitors and staff. The inherent goal is to enhance the patient’s experience while offering creative channels for expression, stress reduction and enhancement of positive thought processes. The Healing Ceilings program turns a “blank” canvas into a creative distraction and unique art gallery. More than 300 painted ceiling tiles are installed throughout Lee Health's six hospitals and multiple outpatient settings. They are enjoyed by adult and pediatric patients anxiously awaiting a procedure; while lying in their hospital room; while receiving physical therapy; upon entering the emergency department; enduring a long radiology test; or by families sitting in quiet waiting area. Tiles adorn the ceiling above the neonatal intensive care unit isolletts and in the outpatient pharmacy.

The colorful, bright, cheery tiles lift the spirits of all who enjoy them. Looking up at beautiful artwork distances people from their anxious moments in the hospital. Volunteer artists willingly donate their time and talent to this meaningful program. Every tile is unique with cartoon characters, abstract images, seascapes, landscapes, skyscapes, gardens, colorful underwater scenes, trees, exotic wildlife, and butterflies adorning them.

Who is it for?

Lee Health patients, families, visitors, staff, physicians and volunteers.

Why do they do it?

Integrating art into the healing and recovery process can promote the well-being of patients, caregivers and hospital staff.

Impact

The impact of this program can be measured simply by looking at the faces of the patients and staff. To watch the fear melt away from a child’s face or the calmness that comes over a loved one anxiously waiting, is priceless. The staff appreciate the distraction that the art provides to their patients and are seen as a healing force. Lee Health has received multiple letters of thanks from patients and families for taking the time to paint a work of art for them to admire from their bed. For patients that have been admitted for an extended length of time, they can paint their own tile and have it installed over their bed in their room. This gives them a sense of home while in the hospital and a reminder of their accomplishment. The opportunity to gaze at a ceiling tile art gallery helps decrease patients’ stress and lowers their blood pressure, easing their anxiety.

Contact: Stephanie Wardein
Interim Director, Community Relations
Telephone: 239-343-8377
Email: stephanie.wardein@leehealth.org