Capital Medical Center’s Story Walk: Inspiring mobility through art

By Meredith Bailey and Nick Baumingham

When you’re healing from an illness or injury in the hospital, rest is important — but too much time in bed can actually slow recovery and worsen health outcomes.

Encouraging people to stay active, however, isn’t always easy.

At MultiCare Capital Medical Center, that challenge sparked a creative solution: Story Walk. This mobility initiative invites patients to venture out of their rooms and move through hospital hallways transformed by art. Featuring photographs of lush Pacific Northwest landscapes, the installation turns ordinary corridors into an experience that encourages movement and connection.

“Story Walk has become a powerful expression of our commitment to whole-person healing,” says Shanon Watkins, DNP, RN, chief nurse executive and chief operating officer at Capital Medical Center. “It offers patients, families and staff moments of peace, hope and reflection as they move through our hospital, reminding us that healing is a journey of both the body and spirit.”

A vision for mobility

The vision for Story Walk began with a question: What would help hospitalized patients —particularly those receiving rehabilitation care — become more active?

“Patients often think they need to rest in bed when they’re recovering, but it’s actually much more beneficial for them to be up and moving,” says Casey Rieland, DNP, RN, director of nursing operations at Capital Medical Center. “Increased mobility has been shown to improve circulation, build muscle strength, and improve mental health, among many other benefits. Patients who are more mobile also tend to spend less time in the hospital overall.”

As Capital Medical Center leaders and staff brainstormed ideas to encourage movement, they recognized an opportunity — hospital hallways weren’t as visually inviting as they could be. The group decided to transform these merely functional spaces into an artistic experience that would entice patients to take a stroll.

That’s when they learned that Edward Arneson, a certified nursing assistant at Capital Medical Center, was also a longtime nature photographer with a passion for capturing the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. It was a perfect match.

“Capital Medical Center is like a second home to me, as I’ve spent nearly half my life walking these halls since 1993,” Arneson shares. “It’s an honor that the leadership team has selected my work for this project, and I’m delighted to be surrounded by images of my first home — the great Pacific Northwest.”

In June 2025, a selection of Arneson’s photos were placed in the hallways at Capital Medical Center — and have since been installed on walls throughout the first floor of the hospital and inpatient units. Moving from image to image, patients, staff and visitors are immersed in the beauty of iconic locales, from the Dungeness River to Lake Crescent to the Hoh Rain Forest.

“Story Walk has had a positive impact on both patients and staff,” Rieland says. “Patients have shared how it’s helped them to feel better during a difficult time, and our team members also really appreciate having the work of one of their own recognized in such a meaningful way.”

A mission to give back

While Story Walk may have begun as a patient mobility initiative, it has since blossomed into something more. Inspired by the response to the project, Capital Medical Center added a philanthropic component.

Donors can now sponsor photographs and have their generosity featured on a plaque next to their chosen image. These gifts support funds — through MultiCare Capital Foundation — that expand access to women’s health care, help remove financial barriers for patients and promote nurse well-being.

In 2025, Story Walk raised $53,000.

“The idea for Story Walk came from this place of compassion for our patients,” Rieland says. “It’s been really wonderful to see it grow into an initiative that benefits our whole community.”