‘Elmhurst Strong’ mural supports the heroes of a Queens hospital hit hard by COVID

A new mural, installed with the help of dozens of hospital staff, was unveiled at Elmhurst Hospital Monday.

Photo courtesy of NYC H+H

By Rachel Vick

Elmhurst Hospital has unveiled a new mural painted by the heroic doctors, nurses and hospital staff who served their fellow New Yorkers inside the early epicenter of the country’s COVID crisis.

Elmhurst Strong, designed by Fernando Lechon, is one of 17 community murals that will be added to the city’s public hospital system through the Arts in Medicine program. The art is designed to inspire hope, provide comfort and reduce stress, the Health and Hospitals Corporation said.

The vibrant mural celebrates the culture of Elmhurst and features images of diverse community members surrounding the hospital.

The city introduced Arts in Medicine to reduce stress for hospital staff needed to bolster the spirits and prevent burnout while raising awareness for emotional health, HHC said.

Studies have shown the success of programs similar to Arts in Medicine in improving staff morale and, in turn, patient experience.
“Arts programs can lower rates of tension, anger, depression, and fatigue—symptoms of burnout and compassion fatigue,” Arts in Medicine Senior Director Linh Dang told Forbes. “We value our staff, and Arts in Medicine will help bring back the joy in work and improve outcomes for staff and ultimately the patients.”