Her name is Cristina and she is 36 years old. And she says that having this landscape opposite has helped her a lot, because in moments in which she was scared or suffering, it was not the same having opposite a wall or a beautiful landscape. And to look at the mountains relaxing and helping her to sleep. She told me this with a wonderful sweetness. 


Some months I could read in the blog Advances on Clinical Management by Jordi Varela, that  at John Hopkins Hospital have replaced the surveys to patients by random personal interviews random, for rating the welfare and the patients satisfaction by initiative of Peter Pronovost. And I agree. That´s why we have pointed to this form of knowing the impact of what we do. 


Cristina told me that when I visited her one Monday, to ask what it had seemed to her, and tell her what we had prepared on Saturday morning while she was in the operating room (for a more than nine hours surgery). As fast as we could, assisted in their spare time, Vicente and Urbano (they must be named, although they do not want to) and Regis removing and putting plugs, we put a bit of integrative medicine in the life of this woman. 

 


When a patient tells you that something new has helped, everything makes sense, and you return to remember why you studied this (and it has nothing to do with mechanical ventilation or the Swan-Ganz). 

 

The idea is to place vinyl, huge posters in all the Boxes. With more reason in those which have no windows to the outside. Those which have, I think that a great idea would also be… Why not?. 

 

 

In our case, we contacted with Mónica Ferrero. She is the Proyecto HU-CI interior designer who recently created the living room concept at Torrejón Hospital. She wisely said many details to consider. Her professional advice was very important, as well as the different websites she sent me to the selection of photos (by the way: careful with the characteristics of the material, and the quality of the image). Then, we selected images for several days, until we found what we were looking for. 
The idea goes beyond than placing landscapes (that is not new). We want to be realistic, and we want views plenty of water, with lots of light and a piece of heaven… Even some secret may be, a photo of one of our adventures… Different images on each Box: a beach, a mountain, a river, a countryside… And here comes the good news:

 

When we make an income, during the trip to the ICU, we always try to go talking to the patient if the situation allows it, to reduce the stress level. And now, during that conversation, we will try to find out if he/she likes the sea, the beach, the mountain, the field… And if we have free boxes, we will try to admit the patient where that desired landscape is. I have already spoken in other post of individualization as maximum expression of humanization. 

With very unstable or unconscious patients, really it´s the same. Do you imagine waking in the ICU with this image instead of a cold wall? This is a huge change, and really makes the difference.
Now, we want our patients could see beyond the wall, and for this we will bring a piece of nature with all the energy that this entails (Elena Lorente… how much I remember you!).

Here is a making off video. The music… A luxury. Gabi spoke with Música en Vena to use “The healing son”, masterfully interpreted by Natalí Castillo and a fantastic band.


 

 

I really enjoyed doing this. More than ever. Because it was an action in which several members of Proyecto HU-CI have participated, with Música en Vena, and people of our ICU and the rest of the Hospital. All people contributing their skills, for a common objective. 


‘A balm for your wounden pulse… A field for hope… “.”

Beyond the wall.

Dr. José Carlos Igeño Cano
Head of ICU and Emergency
Hospital San Juan de Dios de Córdoba
Proyecto HU-CI Member