If you’ve walked into Texas Health Alliance over the past several weeks you were probably greeted by Mozart or Chopin. No, those are not names of our volunteers. No, you have not entered the lobby of a fancy hotel. But, the pleasant surprise of musical notes welcomes everyone who comes through the main entrance.
Just behind the mahogany stairwell sits a beautiful black baby grand piano filling the room with soft melodies. However, there’s no one seated at the bench. The elegant instrument tickled the ivories independently via auto-player technology. Clint Abernathy, hospital president and Tracy Martinez, senior director of professional services, took a few moments to explain the new addition.
“During my tenure at Texas Health Dallas, there was a piano in the lobby and I saw the impact it had on the care team, families and patients,” Clint said. With the generous help of Texas Health Alliance employees contributing to the Foundation Fund, they were able to order the 88-key Remington piano over the summer. “We’ve honored those employees with a plaque mounted on the wall behind the piano, commemorating their impact to the hospital,” Clint said.
The summer has been busy in the lobby with the front desk being relocated to make room for private admissions bays and two new offices as well as adding new furniture and art. “The piano was delivered in July as a final touch to a remodeling project and has been serenading people since,” Tracy said.
It plays classical solo pieces for two hours in the morning and again in the afternoon. They’ve also begun developing custom playlists. “This piano does something remarkable, it softens the atmosphere for patients and families. Whether they’re preparing for surgery or awaiting the arrival of a baby, they can feel calm and relaxed when they hear the music,” Clint said.
At some point in the future, community members from local faith-based institutions as well as students from area high schools and colleges will be invited to play as guest pianists during the holidays and other occasions. “This is another way we can engage with the communities we serve,” said Clint. “We’ve also heard from a few of our own employees who’ve expressed an interest in playing,” added Tracy.
When it comes to first impressions, sounds like Texas Health Alliance strikes the right note.
by Kari Littrell • Posted September 25, 2018
