Contemporary art in medicine: the Cleveland Clinic art collection

“Fine art is good medicine. It comforts, elevates the spirit, and affirms life and hope. Art in the healthcare setting, combined with outstanding care and service, creates an environment that encourages healing and supports the work of medical professionals. As one of the world’s great medical centers, Cleveland Clinic has always included the arts in its healing environment” (Finkel, 2011).

For my capstone project, this article makes me consider indirect additions to the medical experience. Part of pre-arrival care is also preventative care, encouraging patients to take care of themselves. Whether the patient themselves feels more uplifted, or someone needing to give care in an emergency is able to lower stress levels, considering the classical arts could support that journey.

“‘When a patient comes to the hospital, it's like someone puts a steel curtain between them and the rest of the world,’ Iva Fattorini, MD, chair of the Arts & Medicine Institute told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. ‘The moment when you stop focusing on your disease is when the healing starts’” (Finkel, 2011).

I would like for my final design to consider this quote. My device should not feel medical in the traditional sense where everything is very direct and apparent. Allowing people to feel human and not just an instrument in a process could help patients with long travel distances to better prepare for their care experience.

“Art can speed patients’ recoveries, enhance the surroundings, and humanize the hospital. Research shows that art in hospitals adds to a good healing environment, which can speed recovery, reduce stress, and help to retain staff” (Finkel, 2011).

“Artwork on display at Cleveland Clinic functions on many levels, from activating spaces, to providing a means to escape and relieve stress, to provoking humor, to inspiring creativity and discussion, or simply to serving a utilitarian purpose like a way finding device as a visitor navigates their way from building to building. The artwork is formally integrated into the environment such that the visual culture at Cleveland Clinic is part of the overall vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation” (Finkel, 2011).

Allowing my device to be inspiring will remove its barriers to use. I do not want it to be something that a patient dreads using since it relates to their medical journey, rather an uplifting part of care. The Cleveland Clinic is a perfect example of how the art within design can uplift and care for patients in a visual way.

References

Cleveland Clinic. (2023, June 27). Cleveland Clinic Mentor Hospital lobby to feature original artwork by noted artist. https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2023/06/27/cleveland-clinic-mentor-hospital-lobby-to-feature-original-artwork-by-noted-artist

Finkel, J. (2011). Contemporary art in medicine: The Cleveland Clinic art collection. Cardiovascular Diagnosis and Therapy, 1(1), 71–75. https://doi.org/10.3978/j.issn.2223-3652.2011.09.01

No generative AI was used in writing this article.