The constant pressure to minimize medical expenditures encourages the utilization of therapeutic interventions that effectively alleviate adverse patient states while maintaining fiscal feasibility.4 One of these therapeutic interventions may indeed be music therapy. Its safe and convenient administration provides an avenue for health care providers to test efficacy, and explore a wide range of techniques and strategies.
At our facility, the patient is given the opportunity to choose from a wide range of music (see sidebar). The hope is that the patient, in the midst of the procedure, will sense something that in the presence of strangers and cold instruments will be familiar — something the patient can “lean” on whenever s/he feels uncomfortable or afraid.