The power of therapeutic art at Ranken Jordan | By Kristin LaRose, Chief Nursing Officer

You may not think of art when you hear the word hospital, but our art room is one of the most popular places at Ranken Jordan.

And like many other activities and programs we offer at Ranken Jordan, art is more than just art to us–it’s a powerful tool that helps our kids heal.

Art is an integral part of our care at Ranken Jordan because it offers so many rewards.

First, it’s another way to get patients out of their hospital rooms, which is core to our unique care model, Care Beyond the Bedside. Our art room is a place where kids can socialize and work on their motor skills.

Creating a piece of art also gives our kids a sense of control that increases their self-esteem, and it provides them with a way to communicate, something that is often difficult for our patients. Many kids at Ranken Jordan have limited mobility, limited speech, delayed development, or multiple diagnoses so art gives them a way to express themselves.

The person at the heart of our therapeutic art program, which is supported by the Arthur and Helen Baer Foundation, is our art teacher, Julie Villhard.

Julie has been at Ranken Jordan since 2022 and I continue to be amazed by the innovative ways she brings art into the lives of patients.

The majority of our patients cannot simply pick up a paint brush or crayon because of their complex medical issues, so Julie has developed ways that even kids with the most limited abilities can create art.

“I once worked with a patient who could only blink and move her mouth, but she couldn’t make a sound,” Julie said. “Her sister would come visit and she loved to paint, so the patient wanted to paint, too.”

Julie discovered if she made a grid system on paper, she could communicate with the patient by pointing to a section then gesturing to a specific paint color. The patient would then blink yes or no and Julie would paint the square for her.

“She created beautiful things!” Julie said. “It was really amazing.”

The Ranken Jordan team has also led kids in wheelchair art, in which patients in wheelchairs rolled through paint to create a piece. There’s even an annual tradition at Ranken Jordan when kids use syringes to spray paint at Ranken Jordan doctors, which helps make medical equipment less intimidating.

Another advantage is how art can be supportive to families.

Having a child in the hospital can be incredibly challenging but also awkward during visits. People often don’t know what to do or talk about when visiting someone in the hospital, even if it’s their own child.

We often invite families to the art room so parents and caregivers can connect with their child and enjoy an activity that takes the pressure off thinking of something to do or say.

We offer a lot of programs at Ranken Jordan but art is one that truly touches and benefits everyone in our hospital.