Below the Beltway

Mount Vernon Hospital Receives Award for Horticulture Therapy Program

From left to right: Ted Denning, Mara Bruce, Paula Bernsten, and Jan Lane (Photo, taken pre-pandemic, courtesy Inova Mount Vernon Hospital)

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.

ICYMI: City Council Approves Pavilion Entrance at Potomac Yard Station

Kevin Dauray

Kevin is Publisher's Assistant with The Zebra Press. He has been working for Alexandria's "Good News" newspaper since 2019. A graduate of George Mason University, he earned a bachelor's in English with a concentration in Creative Writing. He also studied at the Columbia School of Broadcasting and holds a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Marymount University. He is an alumnus of T.C. Williams High School. Go Titans!

Related Articles

Back to top button