Creating a Healing Journey Through Art

A Journey For The Spirit

Since the opening of Parker Hospital, the Healing Arts program has provided patients, family members, staff members and the community with an environment that calms and revives the senses during times of stress and anxiety.

The Healing Arts program includes visual arts, music, nature and community outreach. All components feature local artists. This program is fully supported by community donations and profits from the hospital’s gift shop.

Music

Music is now a recognized medical therapy, proven to reduce blood pressure, respiratory rates and the self-reported need for pain medication. At Parker Hospital, trained music therapists are an integral part of our healing practice. Musicians perform at bedside and in key areas, including pre-op and oncology. In addition to bedside music therapy, the hospital also hosts concerts in our main lobby. Past performers include teachers and students from the Douglas Elbert Music Teachers Association and the University Of Denver Lamont School Of Music as well as other regional musicians.

Visual Arts

Complementing the Adventist belief in the soothing power of nature, the hospital is filled with permanent art reflecting nature and blending beautifully with the natural materials used in the architecture. In addition to art in common areas, every patient room features a soothing piece of art.

Parker Hospital also has dedicated three galleries to house temporary collections. These galleries display art from local artists, galleries and schools supporting a healing theme, such as strength, hope, peace or serenity.

Community Outreach

Every year, Parker Hospital thanks the community for its ongoing support by providing a free holiday concert called the Concert of ThanksCaring. Held off-site, this program has entertained more than 1,500 community members over the past five years.

The hospital also sponsors its “Curious George Goes to the Hospital” tours for school groups and other groups of children ages four through seven. This program helps ease children’s fears about hospitals while educating them about the vast world of health care. More than 1,200 children have gone on a tour with Curious George!

Healing Gardens

Adventist health care is rooted in the power of God as reflected in nature. Clean water, clean air and natural surroundings are not just good for the body but also good for the soul.

The architecture of Parker Hospital was designed to bring as much of the outdoors inside as possible. Every room has beautiful vista views of the Rocky Mountains and common areas feature sun-drenched spaces and plentiful use of natural materials.

The Healing Gardens outside of the hospital provide a serene natural retreat for patients, family members, visitors and staff. These gardens feature a beautiful walking path, a waterfall, an outdoor fireplace and outdoor seating along with an herb garden that will be used by the hospital’s culinary team and featured in foods in the hospital’s Peakview Café.

Holistic Healing

Helping to heal the body by tending the spirit. Step inside Parker Adventist Hospital and you’ll immediately know that you are in a hospital like none other. From the soaring fireplace to the soft sounds of a grand piano, every element at Parker Hospital is intended to nurture the healing journey of our patients.

The Healing Arts program at Parker Hospital uses many expressions of art including paintings, music and nature to revitalize the mind, body and spirit of our patients, families, visitors and staff.

Community Connection

The Healing Arts program at Parker Adventist Hospital is funded entirely through profits from sales in the hospital gift shop and through community donations to the Parker Hospital Foundation. No hospital or health insurance dollars are used to pay for this program.

The Parker Hospital Foundation continually raises funds to help support and expand the Healing Arts program. Currently, the Foundation is seeking community donations to help expand the Healing Gardens and the bedside music program.

If you are moved by this program and would like to help support it, please contact Lisa Sandoval at the Parker Hospital Foundation at 303.715.7614.

Download a full list of our Healing Arts program.