[Inaudible].
Hi, I'm Dana Jay. And this is Henry Ford health system news.
We bring you stories from across Henry Ford about how our team members are
improving the lives of our patients, our community, and each other. Today,
we begin with an exciting announcement.
The Brigitte Harris Cancer Pavilion will open its doors to patients on January
20, 2021.
Construction of the 187,000 square foot building on West Grand
Boulevard in Detroit was delayed due to the pandemic.
Now we can tell you that come January Henry Ford Cancer Institute experts will
be able to welcome the community to a creative and innovative environment
that matches the world class care they already provide.
The cancer and support services at the new facility are meant to provide a
holistic experience,
providing everything from life saving treatments to counseling and spiritual
support. Enter the David DiChiera Music Therapy Program,
featuring the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the Michigan Opera Theater.
That part of the healing experience began on cue, albeit online.
Henry Ford Cancer Institute,
patients can now enjoy music and song during cancer treatments.
The cello takes you in different places to me, you know,
it could be sad and then it can be uplifting, but it's just different places.
It takes you. And the flute has always been just mild.
Just always mild, always peaceful.
I won't have to come and crack jokes with our patients anymore that are very
stale,
but they laugh with me because they'll have something else to take their mind
off of things.
Research shows music therapy is more than a distraction.
It's proven to be a powerful tool for reducing pain and discomfort and
improving and diminishing stress.
The program is named for the late founder of the Michigan opera theater,
David DiChiera,
and brought to Henry Ford by his daughters and their friends at the Danto Family
Foundation.
Eventually singers and musicians will perform live at the Brigitta Harris Cancer
Pavilion. Until then music is still music,
always and sharing is still sharing and healing is still healing
from the arts to sports where a Henry Ford athletic trainer is taking on a new
role with the Detroit Lions.
The NFL has added an infection control officer to team rosters.
For the lions that's Henry Ford assistant athletic trainer.Matt
Barnes. Barnes has been with Henry Ford and the team for four seasons.
Now, in addition to helping keep athletes in shape,
he's in charge of interpreting and implementing COVID protocols as they come
down from the league.
That could be anything from ordering supplies for screening,
to making sure the locker room and equipment are properly cleaned.
And everyone from players to groundskeepers are wearing masks and social
distancing.
By protecting them. You're also protecting their families at home as well,
especially because we interact with each other quite a bit here. Um, and we,
again, we try to distance as much as we can,
but obviously with my position that, you know,
we gotta evaluate players and treat them like we have to be right on them.
Barnes' job is especially important when a player tests positive for COVID-19 .
He and team and league doctors follow testing protocol and work to safely
return the player to the field. Now,
let's go to Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital,
where staff is sending off some very special graduates.
It was a drive through ceremony for seven students from nearby school districts.
The students with special needs interned at the hospital through the Project
SEARCH program,
which helps young people with disabilities get into the workforce.
Some even get jobs at the hospital after they've graduated.
Project search is a nationwide program,
but Henry Ford West Bloomfield is the only site in Oakland County and they're
welcoming new students. Now finally, our featured photo.
This one comes all the way from Afghanistan, courtesy U.S. Navy,
Lieutenant commanderJesse Park.
Park is a former Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital resident.
He tells us his training at the hospital,
prepared him for his recent deployment in Afghanistan as a Navy doctor
attached to a Marine group. And he wanted to say,
thanks by giving the flag that flew over Camp Shorab in Helmand Province
to the hospital. I want to thank you for watching,
and if you have any story ideas or a featured photo to send my way,
email me at newstips@hfhs.org.
And I'll see you around.
[Inaudible].