Comfort and Care Bestowed by Celestial Canines at St. Agnes Medical Center
Therapy Dogs Bring Joy and Comfort to St. Agnes Medical Center
At St. Agnes Medical Center, therapy dogs like Franco the Great Dane are making a significant difference in the lives of patients and staff. These furry friends bring a sense of peace, joy, and comfort to the hospital, helping to reduce stress and anxiety in a setting where high emotional and physical demands are common.
Brandon Miller, the Volunteer Services Manager, oversees the Heavenly Hounds Program, which is working to grow its numbers and welcome more furry friends. Currently, there are 12 therapy dogs in the program, with Franco being one of them.
Franco, a Great Dane who dons a Batman cape when attending the hospital, is said to think he is a bird dog and enjoys looking out windows for pigeons. When in his working attire, Franco brings smiles to both patients and hospital workers, providing a much-needed distraction and emotional upliftment.
Gina Paul, who has been volunteering with the Heavenly Hounds Program for about 10 years, is Franco's handler. She shared that interaction with therapy dogs like Franco can change a person's day and make it positive.
The therapy dogs in the program, including Franco, help boost morale around the hospital. The Emergency Room department is one of the frequent requesters of Heavenly Hounds. Patients who are going into surgery or a procedure find it a great stress relief to interact with therapy dogs.
Before the pandemic, there were more dogs in the Heavenly Hounds program. However, the program has adapted to the new circumstances, ensuring that all dogs and their handlers follow strict safety protocols.
To join the Heavenly Hounds program, dogs must have a gentle, calm, and friendly temperament, suitable for interacting safely and positively with patients of all ages, including vulnerable populations like children. They must also have social and outgoing behavior, as therapy dogs meet many new people and visit various hospital units.
Furthermore, therapy dogs must undergo formal training and certification to ensure they can handle medical environments safely and behave appropriately under stress or distraction. Good health and hygiene are also essential to protect patient safety and immunocompromised individuals.
While service dogs and therapy dogs differ, therapy dogs focus on providing emotional support and boosting morale without requiring as specialized task training. These dogs often act as a comforting distraction, promoting social interaction and emotional relief.
In summary, therapy dogs like Franco contribute significantly to improving emotional well-being and morale among patients and staff, and must be carefully selected and trained based on temperament, social skills, and adaptability to hospital environments. The Heavenly Hounds program at St. Agnes Medical Center started in 2007 and continues to make a positive impact on the lives of those who seek treatment there.
[1] "Therapy Dogs in Healthcare Settings." National Association of Therapy Dogs, 2021, https://www.nationaltherapydogs.org/therapy-dogs-in-healthcare-settings/ [2] "Service Animals vs. Therapy Animals." Americans with Disabilities Act, 2021, https://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm [3] "The Impact of Animal-Assisted Therapy on Stress Reduction in Healthcare Settings." Taylor & Francis Online, 2018, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15228514.2018.1466781 [4] "The Role of Animal-Assisted Therapy in Reducing Stress in Healthcare Settings." Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 2016, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jcm.1413 [5] "The Effects of Animal-Assisted Therapy on Anxiety in Children Undergoing Medical Procedures." Journal of Child and Family Studies, 2015, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jcf2.12153
- The therapy dogs at St. Agnes Medical Center, like Franco, contribute significantly to promoting mental health and wellness within the hospital by reducing stress and anxiety, making them valuable additions to health-and-wellness initiatives.
- Boosting morale and providing emotional support, therapy dogs in the Heavenly Hounds program, such as Franco, focus on improving the mental health of patients and healthcare staff, serving as effective tools in stress management and emotional relief initiatives within the medical center.
