Frankfort Regional Medical Center has recently announced it is offering a pet therapy program for its patients. The purpose of the pet therapy program is to provide therapeutic opportunities for patients to interact with a therapy animal.
Therapy animals provide companionship, which help humans form therapeutic bonds, therefore providing physical, psychological and social benefits. Pet therapy may provide essential companionship and emotional needs to those with a variety of mental and/or physical illnesses, both children and/or adults.
“We are excited to offer this service to our patients,” said Chip Peal, Chief Executive Officer. “Animal-assisted therapy can significantly reduce pain, anxiety, depression and fatigue in people with a range of health problems. And it's not only the ill person who reaps the benefits. Family members and friends who sit in on animal visits say they feel better, too.”
Hospitalized patients can get a visit if approved by their nurse and/or physician. The patient decides how he or she wants to interact with the dog. The dog may sit on the floor, a chair, or on a clean sheet on the patient's bed. The patient may pet, play with, talk to, or watch the dog. Friends and family members are encouraged to interact with the therapy dogs as well. Visits typically last between five and 10 minutes. Each dog and handler visits the hospital as their schedules allow, which may average to once or twice a week.
Currently, the hospital’s pet therapy program consists of two canines – Tucker and Bailey. Both are German Shepherds, and are certified by Therapy Dogs, Inc. Tucker and Bailey are accompanied by their handlers during hospital visits, and have experience providing pet therapy at other healthcare facilities. Both the dogs and the handlers are on the hospital’s Volunteer Staff, and have met all of the requirements set forth by the hospital to provide pet therapy.
The biggest concern, particularly in hospitals, is safety and sanitation. Many other hospitals and other facilities that use pet therapy have stringent rules to ensure that the animals are clean, vaccinated, well trained and screened for appropriate behavior. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has never received a report of infection from animal-assisted therapy.
Only dogs and volunteers who meet the hospital's requirements and have gone through the application process for pet therapy may visit. Please note that these requirements do not apply to a Service Animal, which are allowed in the hospital.
For more details about the hospital’s pet therapy program visit the pet therapy page.