Archive for » May, 2010 «
Setting up Humor Programs is NOT Rocket Science!
Recently, I’ve been writing a series of articles on the many benefits of establishing Humor Programs in the hospital and healthcare setting. Some of them are obvious — such as the recognized immune-system boost that humor provides (part of Reason #1)… and let’s not forget the stress relief received by a lighter moment in the day for the staff (Reason #4). And the list goes on…
So, ok. It would seem a lot of the reasons I listed are widely recognized. But overall, there are still many hospitals and healthcare facilities that do not have an established program. This leads my ever-’Inquirin’ Mind’ to wonder out loud: “Why not?” If you read my initial article on the 7 Reasons Why Hospital or Healthcare Facilities Should Establish a Humor Program, and it resonated with you — and I imagine it did with many — I wonder why we’re not further along in the world of Applied Humor Therapy programs in the hospital and healthcare setting — on a widescale basis?
While I am sure there is no one particular reason that would be the main obstacle for all, if I was to wager a guess on one of the biggest reasons, I would say it is: knowing where to begin, and how to set up a program that is appropriate for the facility. Obviously, the focus of any facility needs to be on the patients or residents. A Humor Program in whatever form is deemed a “best fit” for a particular facility is the way to serve that population, while reaping the many benefits and blessings of having them, with a well-executed program.
It’s important to remember that setting up a Humor Program is NOT Rocket Science. It can easily be designed and should be be tailored to the hosting facility’s needs. With willing volunteers to staff-manage-and run-it in tandem with a designated facility contact-supervisor, an effective program can cost next-to-nothing, with greater returns than any monies ever expended.
Whatever stage of development or operation your Humor Program may be, there are lots of articles, resources, and links included on this site to assist. Please feel free to explore and check out what is offered here to help the cause of injecting Healing Humor in the healthcare setting.
My heartfelt mission is very simple: I want to help further clown arts and humor programs in hospitals and healthcare settings globally. Together in the collective sense, we are doing that – but I strive to encourage it on a much broader scale than what we are currently doing.
Please let me know how I can help you… feel free to contact me, or to submit your question by way of this online Contact Form (click this link)
MultiMedia Resources on: Applied Humor Therapy, Healing Humor, Establishing a Hospital Clown or Healthcare Family Entertainer Group, Injecting Healing Humor in the Healthcare Setting. More info on materials written, produced and published by me: click this link (here)
Performers sometimes must change their tune! On rounds, often -- if not always, patients inspire!
On rounds, often — if not always, patients inspire! They inspire the perfect joke, schtick or new thought. Coming from the audience’s perspective, this precious insight helps the hospital or caring clown, and healthcare family entertainer do their important work. You know – the ‘work’ that looks like ‘play,’ — as in Applied Humor Therapy.
Longtime entertainers in the hospital or healthcare setting have many memorable moments resulting from captivating folk they meet throughout their meandering journey. These stories and experiences leave indelible heartprints. After the chance encounter, we are never the same, and are immeasurably blessed…
We entered his room gently. He welcomed us in with warm resolution to enjoy this most unexpected visit. He propped himself up for a better view of the spectacle about to take place — that being our meager offering of a performance we tailor to our perceived patient’s receptivity and condition.
After introducing our clown-selves and chatting on a bit, we offered some random fun, as an interlude to the dull sameness surrounding him in his hospital room. My clown partner-not-in-mime plays song requests on her handcrafted kazoo instrument. Upon finishing her piece, he was visibly touched.
The patient shared with us that he couldn’t see so well out of one eye and was blind in the other. He concentrated hard on seeing us, and he heard us just fine! While he didn’t fill us in on what brought him into the hospital, he shared that the experience had led him to see things differently, now. In fact so differently, he knew major life changes were about to take place. He expressed his openess to these changes, embracing them as what he will do for the rest of his life. He shared with us that he did not know where this would take him in this world, but he would go and serve, and do whatever it was to be.
This really touched our hearts, because when we visit patients, they are usually in a dark place, facing test results, surgery, or scary medical procedures. What struck us was that no matter what this gentleman had been through, he was facing a Great Unknown once out of the hospital — and welcoming it! We had a wonderful conversation, and he shared with us his heart-thoughts and thanked us for what we do. He said it means more to others than we would ever know.
Words of patients stay in our hearts and minds a long time — they mean so much. To see a patient so bravely face a totally new life once discharged from the hospital after an obvious life-changing experience, is awe-inspiring!
Do you have a Most memorable Caring Clown Story to share? We would love to hear and share your experience here on AHeart4Clowning.com! Wanta share your story? For submission details, click this link (here)
Back by popular demand!
Healthcare Humor Program Treats All Hearts Touched
Patient care is the focus and greatest concern of any healthcare facility. A Humor Program in tandem with and supportive of the hosting healthcare entity, serves as good will abassadors, and part of the wellness team through boosting immune systems and brightening the environment.
Establishing a Humor Program is a winning combination for any forward-thinking healthcare entity wanting to set themselves apart from other facilities, and building positive reputation in the process. These are 3 of the 7 reasons highlighted in my series on the importance of establishing Humor Programs in the healthcare setting. The outcome of an effective Humor Program can be positively powerful…
A Healthcare Humor Program is Critical Care to all hearts that are touched:
Patients are always the primary focus during visitations. In the healthcare setting, the mission is to do nothing more than cheer the patients through a gentle presence, as a means of taking the patient’s mind off their current health condition or painful situation.
Success is measured if only for just a second, after entering the patient’s room they can forget or not think about their condition, through humorous intervention. They are drawn into the performance, become a part of it, empowered to assist, or even refuse a visit. All are valuable therapeutic value, depending upon the patient’s condition and the situation.
A brighter, more optomistic environment is created, and spirits are lifted in the process:
Visitors may be treated to entertainment in the patient’s rooms, or sometimes caught by surprise in the hallways, waiting rooms, elevators and lobby. Depending upon the situation or mood, the visitors may become the center of attention, if the patient is unable, and it seems the visitors need a cheerful interlude.
The healthcare facility staff often welcomes joy-filled, comedic stress-relieving moments. Entertaining the staff at the nurse’s station and in the hallways as time and schedule allow, can become a much-anticipated adventure, and much-anticipated relief.
Results are tangible in health benefits and priceless in building good will and reputation over time, through a well-orchestrated healthcare Humor Program program, which can be implemented at little cost, for big results.
Scientific evidence supports the concept that humor and laughter make significant contributions to both physical and mental health conditions of all who receive applications of Applied Humor Therapy, by:
- Strengthening the immune system
- Improved cardiovascular health
- Reducing pain, stress and anxiety
- Creating a more positive perspective and optimistic mood
Does your healthcare facility have a Humor Program?
Whether your facility is reviewing possibilities or considering a program, or whatever stage of development or operation your Humor Program may be in, there are lots of articles, resources, and links included on this site to assist. Please feel free to explore and check out what is offered here to help the cause of injecting Healing Humor in the healthcare setting.
Receive information to help you in this effort, by signing up here to receive free updates (click on this link here)
Here is a recommended book on How to Establish a Hospital Clown or Family Entertainer Group
Do you have questions or want to talk with someone about your program and ideas?
If I may answer questions you have or be of assistance to you or your facility in some way regarding setting up an in-house program, or related to your currently-existing Healthcare Humor Program, please feel free to contact me at any time and let me know how I may help: Use the online contact form by clicking this link (here)
Applied Humor in the healthcare setting has tangible benefits!
Recently, I’ve been writing about the inherent benefits of hospital or healthcare facility-based Humor Programs. Important integral elements may easily be overlooked, while efforts are steadfastly fixed upon the proper program set-up, meeting facility training and testing requirements, coupled with wholehearted determination to provide the best delivery of humor…
Possible missing ingredients are the elements of Joy and Wonder. These simple components of an effective Humor Program, may easily be lost in the stack of details and flurry of implementation.
Joy is often the natural by-product of appropriately-delivered humor. Provided to a patient on a personal level, in a time, a place and in just the right space. But if the humor therapist is impeded in some way, their effectiveness is diluted or hindered. Being well-trained and fully integrated as part of the facility’s ‘Wellness Team’ gives the needed support and confidence to help create Joy on-the-fly for all hearts touched along their merry way.
Wonder is that amorphous, shapeless, intangible aspect so often sought after, but not always found. It is a necessary item in the Humor Program Toolbox! To create this essence, is to recognize the possibility what is to be — of things hoped for, but not yet seen. To develop the thought of what might be, beyond what is, with a positive eventual destination, outcome or conclusion to the current adventure.
These elements may sound high-minded, but in reality are very simple in nature, and integral parts of any effective healthcare Humor Program. Upon considering them, one might rightly wonder how any modicum of Joy or Wonder could be provided to the patient who may be staring into the face of a dark unknown. Based on my experience in this venue since 1997, I have personally witnessed this feat accomplished through effective applied humor therapy on a regular, repeated basis throughout visitations or clown rounds.
Admittedly, it is amazing to think a patient in pain, under heavy meds or experiencing a dire health situation would so readily welcome in a humor therapist as they do — but they do! Of course training and preparation are important, but the approach once on the scene is certainly critical. It is a warm, inviting and personal contact with the patient. Sometimes, the patient is not in a place in their heart or mind to take in what a humor therapist has to offer, which is respected. However, most patients welcome the interlude amidst their pain or suffering.
An effective healthcare humor therapy program causes ripple effects, reaching out and infecting others. Humor and smiles are known to be highly contagious! Visitors also are beneficiaries of the adventure, and appreciate the special care and concern extended to their loved one. Staff often welcomes joy-filled, comedic stress-relieving moments. Entertaining the staff at the nurse’s station and in the hallways as time and schedule allow, can become a much-anticipated adventure.
How do the elements of Joy and Wonder affect the bottomline in the healthcare setting?
Beyond the health benefits of humor, and recognized importance for patients, the spillover effect is priceless. The result of a well-executed healthcare program is beyond any dollars that could ever be budgeted and spent, because the hearts, minds and lives of countless individuals are touched.
In the process:
- A caring, serving, personal reputation for the facility is supported or built.
- Unique positioning for the facility is established for hosting such a program; for the foresight and progressive nature of establishing and supporting it.
- Positive memories of the event also help patients and others to engender high regard and admiration for a healthcare facility.
For more information on how Healthcare Facilities Can Build a Caring Reputation through Humor Programs, click this link (here)
In the healthcare setting, Hospital Clowns, Caring Clowns and Healthcare Family Entertainers don’t touch the patients or (obviously) perform procedures as shown here (for staff training purposes), but this very edu-training vid gets the message across about hand washing and hygiene in the healthcare setting…
‘Best Practices’ for professionals and applied humor therapists appearing regularly in this special venue… note the exhibited hand washing technique.
Be sure to follow your hosting facility’s guidelines regarding existing hygiene protocols. We thought this was excellent, clear instruction, and thought it was worthwhile to include as a timely ‘review.’
Recently, I wrote an article on 7 Reasons Why Healthcare Facilities Need a Humor Program. The message must have resonated, based on the response. It’s not surprising, because the core concept itself is endearing to the majority of the public.
It is indeed a heartwarming thought of hospital clowns cheering sick children, or healthcare family entertainers performing for ailing patients. Without a doubt, such selfless acts are noble efforts. It’s easy to figure that through the freely-offered gift of heart, spirits are lifted and patient’s days are brightened. Perhaps that’s the ‘easy’ part to calculate in this formula.
Based upon documented fact and reliable research, the medical community recognizes and embraces the health benefits of applied humor therapy, and even encourages it. However, so many hospitals still have no Humor Program in place… leaving us to wonder – why? It couldn’t be for lack of willing volunteers, because in our trips and travels, we have met many experienced clowns and family entertainers wishing with all their hearts to spread laughter and cheer in the healthcare venue, if only given an opportunity and the necessary facility training.
Benefits of a healthcare Humor Program are far-reaching, even beyond the obvious health effects and spirit-lifting offered to patients, visitors and staff. In fact, in considering establishing a Humor Program, it is possible some related positive side effects might otherwise be missed in the big picture view amidst the flurry of planning and activity.
In the process, hospitals and healthcare facilities that establish a Humor Program may experience at least some of the following benefits for their own organization:
1) Build a reputation as a caring facility: Going that extra mile by offering something really special and totally unexpected — and not to mention different from all the other area hospitals!
2) Recognized as taking a personal approach: By providing a means for good will ambassadors to do some great PR, create smiles and happy memories that will last a long time in the hearts and minds that are touched by a special performance or gentle presence.
3) Receive a lot of promotional value and mileage: Through the positive, uplifting experiences provided purely as an ‘extra’ through a special service, given as a gesture of good will and shared freely and equally with all, throughout the facility on a regular basis.
4) Great good will and excellent community relations are cemented: When a Humor Program is well-executed, performs on a regular basis and becomes known for this ‘work’ that-looks like “play” — it is positively memorable.
Certainly quality patient care is the greatest concern of any healthcare facility. A Humor Program in tandem with and supportive of the hosting organization serves as good will abassadors, and part of the wellness team through boosting immune systems and brightening the environment. Establishing a Humor Program is a winning combination for any forward-thinking healthcare entity wanting to set themselves apart from other facilities, and building positive reputation in the process.
Does your healthcare facility have a Humor Program?
Whatever stage of development or operation your Humor Program may be, there are lots of articles, resources, and links included on this site to assist. Please feel free to explore and check out what is offered here to help the cause of injecting Healing Humor in the healthcare setting.
Receive information to help you in this effort, by signing up here to receive free updates (click on this link here)
Here is a recommended book on Injecting Healing Humor in the Healthcare Setting
The health benefits of applied humor therapy have long been recognized, supported by scientific studies and the medical community.
A true visionary, Saturday Review Editor Norman Cousins, is credited as the forerunner in this aspect, treating his painful health condition with doses of humor 46 years ago, long before contemporary thought recognized and embraced this powerful, effective therapy.
Based on a growing understanding of the associated health benefits, humor programs, hospital clowns, caring clowns and healthcare family entertainers are becoming more mainstream, although they are still not widely-available at a majority of facilities.
Here are 7 reasons why healthcare facilities need to host an in-house humor program:
1) Humor and laughter make significant contributions to both physical and mental health conditions of all who receive applications of Applied Humor Therapy, by:
- Strengthening the immune system
- Improved cardiovascular health
- Reducing pain, stress and anxiety
- Creating a more positive perspective and optimistic mood
These are but a few of the benefits associated with generous doses of Applied Humor Therapy to the recipient, with undoubtedly a residual spillover-effect to all observing the spectacle, as well as the therapist. In the truest sense, humor program participants are part of the hosting facility’s Wellness Team.
2) It’s Critical Care: Patients are always the primary focus during visitations. In the healthcare setting, the mission is to do nothing more than cheer the patients through a gentle presence, as a means of taking the patient’s mind off their current health condition or painful situation.
Success is measured if only for just a second, after entering the patient’s room they can forget or not think about their condition, through humorous intervention. They are drawn into the performance, become a part of it, empowered to assist, or even refuse a visit.
3) Lift Spirits: Visitors may be treated to entertainment in the patient’s rooms, or sometimes caught by surprise in the hallways, waiting rooms, elevators and lobby. Depending upon the situation or mood, the visitors may become the center of attention, if the patient is unable, and it seems the visitors need a cheerful interlude.
4) Uplift: Staff often welcomes joy-filled, comedic stress-relieving moments. Entertaining the staff at the nurse’s station and in the hallways as time and schedule allow, can become a much-anticipated adventure.
5) Build a Rep for Caring and Taking a Personal Approach: Great good will is established and excellent community relations are cemented when a program is well-executed and becomes well-known for this ‘work’ that-looks like play.
6) It is NOT Rocket Science to Set Up a Program: It can easily and should be be tailored to the hosting facility’s needs. With willing volunteers, the program cost can be next-to-nothing, with greater returns than any monies ever expended.
7) Add an Element of Joy and Wonder Where It’s Least Expected – Most Needed: As an added perk to a facility’s amenities, available at low-cost for the far-reaching effects on all people who come into contact with the program in action.
Does your healthcare facility have a Humor Program?
Is the staff at your healthcare facility:
- Supported by an established in-house Humor Program?
- Provided the tools and knowledge for Applied Humor Therapy in the healthcare setting?
Whatever stage of development or operation your Humor Program may be, there are lots of articles, resources, and links included on this site to assist. Please feel free to explore and check out what is offered here to help the cause of injecting Healing Humor in the healthcare setting.
My heartfelt mission is very simple: I want to help further clown arts and humor programs in hospitals and healthcare settings globally. Together in the collective sense, we are doing that – but I strive to encourage it on a much broader scale than what we are currently doing.
Please let me know how I can help you… feel free to contact me, or to submit your question by way of this online Contact Form (click this link)
MultiMedia Resources on: Applied Humor Therapy, Healing Humor, Establishing a Hospital Clown or Healthcare Family Entertainer Group, Injecting Healing Humor in the Healthcare Setting. More info on materials written, produced and published by me: click this link (here)
Here’s a great read on Humor in the Hospital, click on this link here
Attending conferences and ongoing training is good for all of us. It inspires, informs and our networks branch out in new, meaningful ways.
I’m still relishing the wonderful memories and enjoying people I met at the AATH Conference last month. What a thrill to present “Establishing a Hospital Clown or Family Entertainer Group: Train, Prepare, Equip and Promote” at this year’s Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor Conference at Disneyland in Anaheim, California!
It was a stellar gathering of folks from all over the world, involved in many different aspects of Applied Humor Therapy. The free-flow of ideas and encouragement was tremendous. I had heard there was a lot of energy in this group — and I can attest to that! It picked us up and carried us throughout our time there, from the time we stepped off the plane…
Because there were so many aspects and venues for Applied Humor Therapy represented by the attendees, this gave me an excellent opportunity to video several for an exciting new segment on Humor Bit-TV, on the Healing Humor Channel!
The new segment will present a good handful of representative applications of humor in various aspects of everyday life — in the words of the experts! I am truly grateful for all who embraced this special project, and gave a few precious moments of their time and to sharing their hearts on this topic.
Currently, we are in production mode and will soon be releasing these new episodes on the Healing Humor Channel. Last year’s ‘Humor Bit-TV’ theme was “Memorable Healing Humor Moments” featuring several well-known clowns and family entertainers. This year’s focus is on various venues for Applied Humor Therapy, and benefits.
Please stay tuned — more to come soon!
Meantime, tune-in any time 24-7…
Humor Bit-TV on the Healing Humor Channel:
“Memorable Healing Humor Moments” Playlist
Happy World Laughter Day — how do you plan to celebrate, provoke laughter?!
Share the Laughter – Share the Cheer!
World Laughter Day is here 
Laughter Arts & Sciences Foundation:
http://www.laughterfoundation.org/
Give a Smile — Get a Smile — one size really does fit all!
For the Directory of World Laughter Day Events, click this link
Create Endless Smilez ‘n Memories fast easy and simple
with our Funny Smile Makers Kit!
We say — why not celebrate Laughter everyday — everywhere?!