ALEXANDRIA, VA – Inova Mount Vernon Hospital’s horticultural therapy program has been selected as this year’s recipient of the Mid-Atlantic Horticultural Therapy Network’s (MAHTN) Outstanding Program Award. Team members Ted Denning, Maria Bruce, Paula Berntsen, and registered horticultural therapist Jan Lane accepted the award at MAHTN’s annual conference via Zoom on Saturday, Oct. 24.
“Horticulture therapy is a unique program within our renowned inpatient rehabilitation center,” said Roberta Tinch, President of Inova Mount Vernon Hospital and Administrator of Inova’s Musculoskeletal Service Line. “We are proud to be recognized by MAHTN for meeting the robust criteria for this award.”
The program started in June 2019 as part of the Therapeutic Recreation department. It is a partnership between the hospital and Lane of GardenLane, LLC. Each week, patients work on different garden-related activities from planting flowers to potting plants.
The therapy benefits patients in many ways. It can improve memory, help with language skills, and provides the opportunity for socialization.
“It is a joy to see patients get such a sense of accomplishment as they work to complete a project and make progress toward their therapeutic goals as well,” Lane said.
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