companionship. You wouldn't believe what a
comfort a pet therapy dog is for patients
who are also dog owners. And this may just
be the tip of the iceberg. We're currently
researching whether there's any direct corre-
lation between pet therapy, decreased corti-
sol levels and faster healing.
Of course, patients aren't the only ones
who benefit. When our facility lost a staff
member to tragedy, Lulu was an invaluable
source of emotional support for our folks.
Since coming on board, she's become a
beloved member of our work family and a
constant morale-booster.
If you're thinking about using a pet thera-
py dog at your facility, there are some things
you should keep in mind. First, you'll want to make sure the animal is
certified by a reputable national therapy dog registration/certification
organization. The American Kennel Club offers a comprehensive list
of organizations here: osmag.net/SFXza2. You'll also want to make
sure you have clear policies in place to dictate exactly how the pet
therapy will operate at your facility, with careful attention to little,
often-overlooked details. Example: Do you have a dedicated spot the
therapy dog can stay between patient visits that's away from the
workflow? Last but not least, you'll always want to be respectful of
patients and fellow staff members. Remember: Not everybody loves
dogs!
Angela Uhler, MSN, RN, CNOR, NE-BC
WellSpan Health
M A Y 2 0 1 9 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 9
• PET PERKS Lulu, the pet therapy dog at
WellSpan Health in York, Pa.
York, Pa.
auhler@wellspan.org
