Companions in Care: The Healing Role of Hospital Therapy Animals

Working Nurse Magazine — HOSPITALS MAY FEEL OVERWHELMING — full of quick-paced clinicians, beeping and chiming alarms, bright lights, and hard flooring that even the best Danskos can’t soften. Within that clinical cacophony, a hospital therapy dog can be a calm and healing presence, offering comfort through an unconditional human-animal bond. The benefits can be profound — and they aren’t limited to only patients!

Complementing Traditional Care

Hospital therapy dog programs are a subset of what is known as animal-assisted intervention (see sidebar) where a trained dog offers support for a patient’s wellbeing.

PIH HEALTH “We established our pet therapy program in 2001. Kona-licious (Kona to her friends) is a Pet Partners-certified 4-year-old Yorkshire terrier who visits patients and families in both inpatient and outpatient care areas, from the ED to radiation/oncology.”