Music therapy (MT) in palliative care is well-established as a sub-acute speciality in Australia, offered through palliative care units, stand-alone hospices, and community palliative care. However, little has been written about MT in palliative care within acute-care medical settings and trauma-care settings.

This paper describes the development and evolution of a MT program in a consultancy palliative care service within an acute-care medical setting, with a focus on the role and impact of moments of music for palliative patients and families within this space.

Moments of music in this context are brief music therapy interventions in the midst of intense medical care, conversations and decision-making. They are time-critical and opportunistic, used to support patient and family coping in complex medical settings and as the patient approaches end of life.

Analysis of program data and case vignettes will be shared to illustrate:
1) the client population
2) reasons for referral to music therapy and acuity of patient/family need
3) MT interventions employed with palliative patients within the acute-care medical setting, focusing particularly on moments of music, what they might look like, how they are introduced to the patient/family, and why they are appropriate in these settings
4) how moments of music can a) help amplify the identity and humanity of patients receiving palliative care in acute-care settings; b) provide opportunities to create meaning in distress; and c) support moments of quiet and calm in the midst of overwhelm and chaos.

Conclusion: The acute-care hospital setting presents unique challenges for palliative care patients and RMTs, impacting how MT services are able to be implemented to best support patient and family needs. Moments of music offer a way for RMTs to tailor traditional MT interventions to the needs of the patient and the setting.