Provider Page

These resources are compiled specifically for health care providers that are interested in narrative medicine including poetry.

Feel free to Contact Debbie with poetry articles, blogs, poems, programs of interest or to share your enthusiasm for medical-poetry related topics of interest.

Journal Articles of Interest

Blanchard, Margaret M. 2005. “The Breaking of Waves in a Steady Surf”: The Transformative Power of Rhythm and Emotion in Poetry. Journal of Poetry Therapy. March, Volume 18, No. 1, pp. 1-15.
Bowman, Ted. 1994. “Using Poetry, Fiction and Essays to Help People Face Shattered Dreams.” Journal of Poetry Therapy. Vol. 8, No. 2, pp. 81-89.
Bowman, Ted. “Poetry Anthologies of Grief and Bereavement: A Critical and Applied Review.” Journal of Poetry Therapy. December 2007. Vol. 20 No.4, pp. 219-223.
Kleppe, Sandra Lee. 2006. “Medical Humanism in the Poetry of Raymond Carver.” . Journal of Medical Humanities. March, Volume 27, No. 1, pp. 39-55.
Tegner, Ingrid, Fox, John, Philipp, Robin, and Thorne, Pamela. “Evaluating the use of poetry to improve well-being and emotional resilience in cancer patients.” Journal of Poetry Therapy, V. 22, No. 3, September 2009, p. 121.
Wear, Delese. 1987 “Medical students’ encounters with the cadaver: A poetic response.” Death Studies. March. Volume 11, Issue 2, pp. 123-130.

Poetry in the Waiting Room

Rather than watch people flick through dog-eared People or Us magazines or watch people stare aimlessly to avoid eye contact, or wonder about their stories, accessible poetry can help humanize impersonal places, fill a patient's heart when the air feels heavier, and decrease the anxiety of waiting to hear one's name called. Poetry's descriptive language can provide instant distraction, which can lower blood pressure and allow easier breathing.

Poetry in the Waiting Room (PitWR) was initially begun by the Arts in Health Charity in the outskirts of London in 1998. Patient-centered poems are presented on tri-fold cards. Each card supplies short collections of rich and evocative poems, seven or eight ancient and contemporary poems. Selections are varied and draw upon the somatic experience, rather than explicit medical and health issues. http://www.pitwr.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/E.html

In County Kildare Eire, Pit(WR) was initially sponsored by the Kildare County Council Arts Services. Leaflets of poetry are provided to medical center waiting rooms throughout County Kildare Eire. http://pitwr.blogspot.com/

In Dunedin, New Zealand, Ruth Arnison, author and poet, established the local Pit(WR) in 2008 to serve Otago. The poetry cards combine classic poems with new works by New Zealand poets. It is her intention to spread the arts-in-health literacy scheme throughout New Zealand.

In Santa Rose, California, Sue Saandilands, Sutter Medial Center, recently launched Poetry in the Waiting Room USA. Contact Sue at suessandilands@yahoo.com for more information.

For facilities that don't have programs in place, donation of poetry books or short stories framed or laminated is encouraged.

Poetry and Medicine-Related Blogs

Alzheimer's Poetry Project is a blog where poetry written by people living with Alzheimer's disease is posted. http://alzpoetry.blogspot.com
Running a Hospital is a blog that was started by a CEO of a large Boston hospital to share thoughts about hospitals, medicine, and health care issues. www.runningahospital.blogspot.com/2007/08/poetry-from-nurses-and-doctors-part-i-html