Pets offer therapy to hospital patients
By Beckey Arnold - Argus Observer
Sunday, March 25, 2007 12:46 AM PDT
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| Beckey Arnold | Argus Observer
Molly visits Taelor Kochsmeier, 6, at Holy Rosary Medical Center. Molly will visit twice a month with owner Louise Sweeney to offer patients Pet Therapy. |
Ontario - Rescued from Snake River Veterinary Center, Molly — a 7-year-old healer mix — now returns the favor and rescues lonely patients at Holy Rosary Medical Center.
Louise Sweeney, Payette, received Molly shortly after her husband passed away three years ago as a gift from her daughter, Eilene Sweeney.
Louise said Molly has always had a nice disposition and been very good with children and people.
“I wanted to do something nice for others,” Louise Sweeney said. “So we took the training.”
She said the pair was certified through Therapy Dogs Inc. at St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center in Boise.
“They are a national program,” Sweeney said. “We took 12 lessons.”
The duo must renew their license every year, Sweeney said, but the certification will transfer from state to state.
Sweeney said during the class they were taught many different things. The first test Molly had to pass took place at the park — the dogs must be compatible with other dogs, she said.
The dogs are taught how to walk the halls in the hospital, Sweeney said. Molly is a pro when it comes to hospital behavior.
“She must hug the wall when she walks and lie down or sit if a cart is coming,” she said.
Molly was taught not to eat anything off the floors, Sweeney said.
“It could be a pill,” she said.
Grooming is another lesson taught during the class. Molly is brushed with a vacuum prior to visiting to help gather loose hair. Her teeth are brushed with a special doggie toothbrush and chicken-flavored toothpaste, Sweeney said.
Before the twosome can enter Holy Rosary Medical Center as a therapy team, they must pass three separate demo visits with Infection Control Nurse Eilene Sweeney.
Some points on the check-off list are: therapy handler in control of the pet at all times; the pet follows basic obedience commands; pet remains calm in crowded halls; pet is well groomed; pet remains on a 4-foot leash at all times; and patients are assisted with hand washing or alcohol based gel before and after touching the pet.
Molly and Sweeney are unable to visit newborns and patients at risk of infection (transplants, chemotherapy).
Once the duo passes three demos, they will be able to visit the hospital and begin pet therapy. Sweeney said they will visit twice a month so Molly does not get burned out.
When the two first arrive at the hospital, they will check in with the nurses station, Sweeney said. The nurses will provide Sweeney with a list of patients to visit. She said she always knocks on the door prior to entering to make sure they want to see Molly.
When the two enter the room, Sweeney said she will pull a chair up to the bed for Molly to stand in so the patients can reach her. Molly stretches her head forward and will lay on the patient’s shoulder.
“She is allowed to get in bed with them if they invite her,” Sweeney said. “She is trained to be around tubes.”
When it’s time to leave the patient’s room, Sweeney said she wipes the hair off the bed and chair and will give patients alcohol hand sanitizer for their hands.
Sweeney said human/animal interaction has been proven to help lower blood pressure, increase life and decrease heart disease. When the study worked with pain management, the pain scores decreased with pet therapy, she said.
Sweeney has rules of her own for patients to follow with Molly.
“A child can not be mean to Molly. It is my privilege to leave,” she said. “If I see my dog is distressed, I’m supposed to say ‘my dog needs some water.’”
Because Sweeney is a volunteer and not a nurse, she said she is not allowed to offer any assistance to the patients.
“I can’t give them water, they may not be able to have any,” she said.
Sweeney will always call the nurse if aid is needed. She also said she cannot ask the patient personal questions, just small talk — mainly about dogs.
Sweeney said not only is Molly at the hospital to visit patients, she is also there for nurses and doctors.
“They need therapy too,” she said.
