New research shows that Medical Clowns not only assist with patients but contribute to a reduction in the level of stress within the hospital setting. They have been proven to increase efficiency levels because they allow staff to manage procedures quickly and smoothly.

Laughter, like exercise, can reduce stress, improve tolerance to pain, and alter bodily functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, muscle activity, and stomach acidity. It triggers the release of endorphins and serotonin that create feelings of happiness.

Hadassah is now extending the use of the Medical Clowns into other areas, e.g. as an integral part of Paediatric surgical teams, enabling a reduction in time to administer anaesthetics, lowering stress, with faster operating times resulting in cost savings.

• Since 2002 Hadassah have pioneered Medical Clowning in Israel, going from entertaining children in hospitals into creating and developing a professional medical therapy integrated within our medical teams.
• New research show that the Medical Clowns increase hospital efficiency levels, allowing staff to manage procedures more quickly and smoothly.
• “The hospital clowns have made an extraordinary impact. They help acutely ill children lose their fear of hospitalisation and treatments…opening the way for the medical staff” Prof Dan Engelhard, Head of Paediatrics Hadassah.