VA and Miliary Hospitals Using Music 

Over the last 3 decades, research into the benefits of therapeutic music for patients has grown exponentially.

Music Medicine reduces anxiety and decreases pain perception. Not only do patients feel better but often patients require less opioids, anxiety meds, and anesthesia. Music Medicine is distinguished from Music Therapy in that it can reach many more patients with proven effect at a lower cost to the hospital. It can be used all over the hospitals without requiring a therapist because it is prescribed as a passive intervention by the doctors and nurses. It can be used throughout the perioperative period.

Benefits for VA and Military Hospitals

Music Medicine is especially useful in VA and military hospitals because of its proven value in behavioral health with PTSD, anxiety disorders, and trauma. The VA hospitals are actually the birthplace of music therapy in the 20th century, but most hospitals can only employ 2 or 3 music therapist so most patients never see a music therapist for an individual session. With our preloaded devices, all patients can have access to calming, soothing therapeutic music literally around the clock.

Surgical Serenity Solutions Options

Our copyrighted music is curated and created by Dr. Alice H Cash, PhD, LCSW, a musicologist with 30 years of experience in using music, according to a proprietary system that engages “rhythmic entrainment,” in which the body responds to the rhythm of the music, creating relaxation. Our music is specifically curated to calm patient anxiety and decrease perception of pain.

We offer three distinct products to suit almost any hospital situation:

• Cordless, preloaded headphones with a choice of six different playlists
• MP3 players that are preloaded with a choice of three playlists
• Our mobile apps with the six playlists are available for patient downloading or licensing

Other Resources

Here are some other resources to help you make a decision about using Music Medicine in your VA hospital, just as many VA hospitals around the country have done.

• Download our VA Capability Statement here
• VA Research on our Music Medicine
• VA Hospital research on benefits of music therapy for PTSD
• Blog post, “Why Veterans need complementary interventions”
• Blog post, “Veteran’s Day and the Importance of Music”

VA/Military Hospitals that have purchased our products
Robley Rex VA Hospital, Louisville, KY 40206
Weed Army Community Hospital, Fort Irwin CA 92310
Phoenix VA Healthcare Phoenix AZ 85012
Palo Alto VA Hospital Palo Alto California 94304

Contact information
Dr Alice H Cash, PhD, LCSW
Surgical Serenity Solutions, LLC
DrAlice@SurgicalSerenitySolutions.com
502-419-1698