One of the
nation’s best-known regional health care networks, Jewish Hospital and St.
Mary’s HealthCare has demonstrated a clear understanding of the healing
power of the arts. With 70 health care facilities and 1,900 patient beds, it
has been a leader in innovation with a patient focused vision. A testament to
this vision is the purposeful, planned incorporation of art in the
organization’s two newest facilities -- Jewish Hospital Medical Center
East and Jewish Hospital Medical Center South.
Jewish Hospital and St.
Mary’s HealthCare also has a commitment to the community it serves. It
assembled a stellar group of Kentucky glass artists for Jewish Hospital Medical
Center East and worked closely with the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft to
coordinate the selection and the commissions of local artists for Jewish
Hospital Medical Center South to create artworks in a variety of media,
including metal, wood, glass and clay.
Jewish Hospital Medical Center
East, on Dutchman’s Lane in Louisville, brought together technology and
art to create a dynamic and progressive healing environment for patients. The
“next generation” facility has expanded the objective of
patient-focused health care to include a concern for the emotional comfort of
their patients. Following national research that shows a strong correlation
between the ambience of a health care facility and positive patient outcomes,
glass art was incorporated into the overall design of the facility. Assembled
is a collection of both permanent and rotating glass art by Kentucky artists,
including Kenneth F. von Roenn, Jr., Stephen Rolfe Powell, Fred DiFrenzi, Brook
Forrest White, Jr., Greg Fleischaker, Mark Payton, Patrick Martin and Brian
Higer. Suspended from the atrium ceiling is a 30-foot tall magnificent
sculpture by von Roenn, created as a visual expression of healing –
growth, change and transformation.
Jewish Hospital Medical Center South
in Bullitt County and the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft commissioned eight
Kentucky artists to use Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest as their
inspiration for creating art that identifies nature as a calming reassuring
healing force and that represents the regeneration of life through the changes
of seasons. Plans were made at the architectural stage to ensure that it would
contain appropriate areas for the installation of artwork. The lobby features a
serpentine wall with four windows, which are original art glass pieces by Fred
DiFrenzi, Berni North and Paul Nelson. A major hallway wall includes four
niches that house pieces by Erica Strecker, Wyatt Gragg, Matt Weir and Steve
Heine. That same wall serves as the backdrop for the most dramatic piece of the
exhibition, a large steel sculpture by Brian Holden, which captures the power
and greatness of Mother Nature, and how she provides strength to heal, sustain
and regenerate life.
The art offers enlightenment and encouragement to
patients, family, friends and staff as they receive, give care or accompany
loved ones at these facilities. Building on its past 100 years of providing
excellent health care to the communities it serves, Jewish Hospital & St.
Mary’s HealthCare has advanced the concept of incorporating art in the
health care environment as a “best practice” for business success in
the health care industry.
Previous recipients: Brown-Forman Corporation, South Central Bell, Ashland Oil, Inc., Philip Morris USA, Humana, Inc., Texas Gas Transmission, Martin Coal Company, Liberty National Bank, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Trans Financial, Inc., Charlie Johnson/Active Transportation, The Commercial Bank of Grayson, William & Meredith Schroeder, Bank of Louisville, Peoples Bank of Madison County, J. W. Kinzer Drilling Company, Fifth Third Bank, Community Trust Bank, Julius Friedman and Artique.