Hospital pet visitation

No Molly isn't a patient she's part of the Naval Hospital Jacksonville (NH Jax) staff and she has the hospital ID to prove it.

Four-year-old Molly and her 18-month-old sidekick Teddy are Cavalier King Charles Spaniels owned by Cmdr. Deborah Roy, assistant director of nursing at NH Jax.

Molly and Teddy are the first dogs in the hospital's new Pet Visitation program. Both Molly and Teddy are exceptionally well trained, well behaved and just plain adorable. Either of them can take a special place in the hearts of young and old alike as they and Roy make their rounds.

Molly helps relieve some of the stress of patient Rose Thurman while visiting the NHJ Emergency Room.

"The dogs provide a positive diversion from the normal hospital environment and help folks feel more at home," said Roy, who initiated the new program here. "Many patients and visitors reminisce about their own pets and their impact in their life," she said. "The visits provide stress relief and a positive interaction that does not involve the medical illness they are being treated for."

Recognizing that some people are not dog people and others have allergies, Roy said the pets are never introduced to patients, visitors or staff without their permission or if it would medically inappropriate. The hospital is seeking volunteers to join the program. All types of breeds and mutts are welcome.

Roy said dogs must be healthy, at least one year of age, be on year-round flea/tick and heartworm prophylaxis, and be evaluated by the NAS Jacksonville veterinarian annually.

Dogs must attain their Canine Good Citizen certification -a simple obedience test available through the American Kennel Club. Go to AKC.org for information.

Molly clearly has made a new friend. Sarah Garringer gets a kiss from the four-legged NHJ canine staffer in a hospital passageway.

After dogs and their owners are approved for the program, they must attend the American Red Cross (ARC) orientation program at NH Jax and obtain access to the base. For information on the NH Jax ARC program call 542-7525.

After all criteria are met, the dog handlers are asked to volunteer for at least one hour per month. Roy said that is the ideal amount of time for the dog's rounds. "It takes about one hour to complete a set of rounds and dogs get tired around that time."

Pet therapy has been used for years throughout the medical field," Roy said. "Some of the places we see pet therapy being used are in nursing homes (as visitors or as resident pets), physical rehabilitation programs, and hospital-based visitation. Dogs have been used as assistance animals for years and serve as companions as well as helpers for everyday activities. Seeing-eye dogs help the blind navigate through society. There are even dogs that can sense seizures in their owners before the owners feel the warning signs. Dogs are helping young readers feel more comfortable with their reading and speaking skills. There are service dogs trained to assist people through traumatic events. For instance, dogs were used to assist aid and rescue workers during the 9/11 tragedy in New York City. Dogs help returning soldiers through the Paws for Purple Hearts program, where service members with Post Traumatic Shock Syndrome (PTSD) train service dogs. The Pet Visitation program at NH Jax has already garnered positive reactions from patients, visitors and staff. "What a neat idea," and "It brightened my day," were some of the comments.

Staff also benefit from a Molly moment. Sharon Lassiter and Sharon Galloway take a moment out from their busy day in the NHJ Emergency Department for some pet therapy.

Staff has also benefited from departmental visits. "One quick stop to pet the dogs provides a brisk relief from the challenges of the day and helps to refuel them," Roy said, noting that she's received numerous requests from departments for therapy visits.

Studies on the medical benefits of interactions with pets, while not offering definitive evidence, are largely positive. According to the CDC, pets can decrease your blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and feelings of loneliness. Pets can increase your opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities and opportunities for socialization. Of course, most pet owners would say that their pet's biggest benefit is their capacity for unconditional love. Molly and Teddy shared plenty of that with lots of people. To enroll your dog in the NH Jax Pet Visitation program contact Roy at 542-7635.