“What’s your favorite kind of music?” may not be a typical question inpatients get asked, but for physical therapist assistant Sheila Rineer, of Good Shepherd Penn Partners at Pennsylvania Hospital, this tidbit of information can provide great motivation to get patients moving… and helping them in their recovery.
Rineer knows that PT isn’t always a favorite activity — for some inpatients it can be painful or they might be scared of falling. But she finds that music can make a big difference. Whether it’s a favorite artist or a Broadway show — one patient loved “Oklahoma!” –Rineer has found that pulling out her phone and playing a favorite tune not only puts patients at ease but also gets their trust. “Sometimes we even sing together as we’re doing our moves,” she said.
For Rineer, this type of encouragement results in more than just rehab, though. “Some patients have tragic stories,” she said. “Just putting a smile on their faces is enough.”
At Penn Medicine, we all aspire to be Difference Makers who represent the Penn Medicine Experience (PMX) in action. PMX sets a consistent standard across all of our entities and work locations to make every touchpoint an opportunity to build enduring connections with patients, families, visitors, and colleagues, which is a foundational part of the UPHS Success Share program.