Harmonia Therapy Featured in Advance for Nurses

Last year we featured Buddy Wakefield and his innovate approach to respiratory therapy - teaching patients how to play a harmonica.

Since then, harmonica therapy has taken off among the pediatric patients at the Herman & Walter Samuelson Children's Hospital at Sinai. Blowing in and out on the instrument, and learning to play simple songs like "Jingle Bells," strengthens the child's ability to use diaphragmatic breathing, and likely increases the muscles used to inhale and exhale.

"The harmonicas are way more fun for the children than the incentive spirometers are," said Pat Moloney-Harmon, MS, RN, CCNS, FAAN, told Advance for Nurses. The magazine recently featured the program at Sinai.

To learn more about the Children's Hospital at Sinai, call 410-601-WELL (9355).