Hospital Features Works of Local Artists Selected to Support Evidence Based Design

Concord Township, Ohio – March 3, 2010

When Lake Health set out to build the 300,000 square-foot TriPoint Medical Center, they made a commitment to the community to redefine healthcare. Among their top priorities was to create a healing environment designed to promote rest and relaxation. They envisioned natural sunlight streaming through large windows, a healing garden, fireside seating and water elements that offer opportunities to pause and reflect. To enhance this healing environment, Lake Health engaged Distinctive Art Source to guide them through the creation of a multi-media art program that continued their vision.

“We were honored to collaborate on this Pebble Project with the TriPoint Art Committee and the team at Karlsberger,” says Barbara Harriman, president and creative director, Distinctive Art Source. “Together we exceeded our goals.”

Research shows that patient-based art programs can help reduce stress in the healthcare environment. “Images that are appropriately selected for the hospital environment may offer patients and their families a positive distraction and a sense of comfort in the midst of unfamiliar surroundings,” explains Harriman. “At TriPoint we worked with the abundant local talent and awe-inspiring natural views to create an indoor nature experience for patients and visitors.”

TriPoint Medical Center opened its doors October 21, 2009 in Concord, Ohio, featuring a combination of 347 multi-media pieces of art that were selected to complement the warm wood and stone interiors while representing a wide spectrum of local talent and depicting familiar images of Northeast Ohio. TriPoint’s beautiful new facility features the works of 26 local artists mainly from the Tri-County area. The evidence-based art program comprises 87 original art works created for the hospital including photography, metal sculpture, fabric art, watercolor, pressed flowers, oil on canvas, acrylic on canvas and hand-blown glass.

The hospital’s natural setting and prominent tree line inspired the inclusion of trees throughout the hospital’s interior. A two-story sculpted “Tree of Peace” creates an interior focal point at the grand staircase while three tree sculptures with resin leaves sparkle and give identity to the main entrance. The art program supports the exterior natural setting and enables patients and visitors to feel connected with nature throughout their hospital visit. “We made a concerted effort throughout the hospital to embrace nature, from the abundant use of natural light, through the artwork, to the views of the surrounding outdoors and rooftop gardens,” says Cynthia Moore-Hardy, LakeHealth President and CEO.

Additional elements of the TriPoint art program include
• a rotating art gallery in the Grand Concourse provides continual support of the local art community
• digital patient and exam room art;
• Extensive donor recognition program.

“Congratulations on a truly remarkable outcome,” says Joe Kucharz, director of healthcare, Navigant Consulting, Inc. “The art at TriPoint really fits the vision and intent of LakeHealth.”

About Lake Health:
Lake Health is a private, not-for-profit leader in community health care in Northeast Ohio. In fact, providing progressive, compassionate health care to everyone in and around Lake County has been both their mission and their vision since 1902. Rather than focusing on episodes of care, Lake Health provides a lifetime of health and wellness, embracing a philosophy of patient and family-centered care. They accomplish their mission through a comprehensive network that includes 600 dynamic physicians, 2,700 health care professionals, almost 1,000 volunteers, and nine up-to-date facilities. For more information about the TriPoint Medical Center project, view the feature article in the February 2010 issue of Healthcare Design magazine at http://tinyurl.com/yeleozh.

About Distinctive Art Source:
Distinctive Art Source is a turnkey art consulting firm, working exclusively in healthcare. DAS guides clients through the process of creating customized patient-based art programs centered on patients, evidence-based design and client input. The company goals are twofold: to introduce unexpected art options and to involve local artists whenever possible. The firm’s architectural background allows their team to blend seamlessly into the existing design process, providing facilities with necessary timelines and budgets to keep projects on schedule and within budget.

Established in 2003, Distinctive Art Source has served a pivotal role in creating patient-based art programs in millions of square feet of hospital space. DAS connects clients with hundreds of artists throughout the country to enable hospitals to conceptualize, visualize and realize the goals of their art programs.

Contact:
Theresa Ceniccola
Marketing Director, Distinctive Art Source
832.431.4208
tceniccola@distinctiveartsource.com
www.distinctiveartsource.com

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