Banner Boswell brings smiles to patients through new Pet Therapy program
SUN CITY, Ariz. (Dec. 15, 2010) – Each week, 13 volunteers at Banner Boswell Medical Center prepare for their hospital shift by washing their dogs. The volunteers and their four-legged partners are part of Banner Boswell’s new Pet Therapy program, which began in September to bring tail-wagging smiles to patients and families at the Sun City hospital.
Phoenix resident Lyndy McKay has been a Pet Therapy volunteer for 15 years, visiting patients at Banner Boswell Rehabilitation Center in Sun City and the Banner Alzheimer’s and Special Adults residences in Peoria. She and Glendale resident Marilyn Vinson are the volunteer co-chairs for the Pet Therapy program at Banner Boswell, which is affiliated with Therapy Dogs, Inc., a non-profit group that oversees the Pet Therapy programs at all Banner Health hospitals. McKay visits Banner Boswell patients weekly with Joy, her 7-year-old black Labrador retriever.
“It’s a wonderful experience,” McKay said. “My favorite parts are going to the waiting rooms and visiting with staff. The nurses always see us and say they need their dog fix. And when we leave the surgery family waiting room, we hear people talking about their dogs. Every week there’s some kind of story to share.”
McKay and Joy recently visited with Peoria resident Franky Schiro, who was pleasantly surprised by the pair while anxiously awaiting her cardiac catheterization procedure. “I think it’s wonderful! Joy is just a little doll. I could love her and take her home! It felt so good to visit with her.”
Banner Boswell is the newest Banner Health hospital to offer Pet Therapy, which now boasts more than 165 therapy teams across the Valley. Research has shown that petting a dog can reduce blood pressure and alleviate stress – no matter the size of the animal. Banner Boswell’s furry team members range from tiny Dachshunds to large Mastiffs and a 150-pound Irish wolfhound.
One of the newest therapy teams at Banner Boswell is Glendale resident Annette Wagner and Daisy Mae, a 3-year-old Cocker Spaniel, who joined the program in November.
“Daisy Mae gets excited when she sees me put on my uniform,” Wagner said. “She’s very social and it’s a great opportunity for both of us. It’s been a very rewarding experience. Patients light up when they see the dogs coming.”
To bring that kind of tail-wagging joy to patients and visitors, dogs and handlers must go through training. The four-legged volunteers are tested during an initial meeting with an observer, and then again during three or four separate observations in the hospital before being admitted to the program. Volunteer co-chairs McKay and Vinson also are certified observers through Therapy Dogs, Inc. In addition to ensuring dogs have up-to-date shot and health records, observers take note of:
- A dog's comfort level with being touched.
- How responsive and friendly the dog is around people, children and other dogs.
- If dogs have a tendency to bark, become hostile or get too excited around people, they could be disqualified from the program.
The two-legged volunteers must go through the usual volunteer application process, which includes filling out an application, interviewing with a volunteer coordinator, going through a background check and getting a TB test. Because dogs and handlers work as teams in the program, handlers must be able to engage patients in friendly, lighthearted conversations. Their ability to communicate with their dog also is a key measurement for observers.
After testing is complete, Therapy Dogs, Inc. will certify the dog to work in a healthcare environment. Once handlers and their dogs are certified to participate in Pet Therapy, they usually visit the hospital one day a week.
"We have the dogs visit the non-critical patient areas of the hospital as well as the waiting rooms," said Michele Phelps, who coordinates the volunteers in the Pet Therapy program. “Additionally, staff members are able to request visits for patients through our computerized order system. The order goes directly to Volunteer Services to put on the Pet Therapy schedule for the day.”
Handlers and dogs will spend about one to two hours doing rounds. Handlers must respectfully enter a room and ask patients if they would like to visit with a dog. Visits usually last up to 10 minutes, and handlers must know when to leave so that patients have privacy and time to rest.
Banner Boswell’s Volunteer Services department currently is accepting applications for Pet Therapy teams. All dogs must have current rabies shots and be well-groomed. It is also helpful if dogs have passed a general obedience course.
"A person should have a good idea as to whether their dog will do well in a hospital environment," Phelps said. "As long as dogs and handlers meet all the criteria, they can be in the program."
For more information about the Pet Therapy program or to volunteer, contact Volunteer Services at (623) 876-5387.
About Banner Boswell Medical Center
Banner Boswell Medical Center is a 430-bed, acute-care hospital located in Sun City, Arizona. Founded in 1970, Banner Boswell offers heart services, cancer care, orthopedics, neurosciences, women’s diagnostics, emergency care, and medical and surgical services. Supporting Banner Boswell’s mission of excellent patient care is Sun Health, which encourages charitable giving to enhance health care delivery. Banner Boswell is part of nonprofit Banner Health, named a Top Ten Hospital System in the U.S. by Thomson Reuters, with 23 hospitals throughout the West. For more information about Banner Boswell, visit www.BannerHealth.com/Boswell.
Contact:
Lisa Guinn (623) 876-5704
