Jordan Ellis
Pets are a part of the family, and for many, their comfort and companionship are invaluable. Hospitals have traditionally prohibited pets from visiting patients due to health and safety concerns, but this is changing. A growing number of hospitals are recognizing the benefits of pet visitation and are implementing programs that allow pets to visit their owners. This shift is supported by research indicating that dogs reduce anxiety in hospitals, which can speed up healing. While there are valid concerns about the presence of pets in hospitals, the benefits of pet visitation for patient morale and comfort suggest that hospitals should consider allowing pets, with appropriate measures in place to manage risks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Pets reduce anxiety in hospitals | Research shows that pets can reduce anxiety in hospitals, which may slow down healing. |
| Pets provide comfort | Pets can provide comfort to their owners when they are sick and hospitalized. |
| Therapy dogs | Many hospitals have their own therapy dogs to visit patients. |
| Service animals | Service animals are allowed in hospitals and are defined as animals that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. |
| Personal pets | Some hospitals allow personal pets to visit, but they must be up to date on vaccines, house-trained, clean, and healthy. |
| Compromise | Some hospitals allow pets only in certain places as a compromise. |
| Patient satisfaction | Allowing pets in hospitals can improve patient satisfaction. |
| Infection control | Resident-animal programs should not allow animals into isolation areas, protective environments, operating rooms, or any area where immunocompromised patients are housed. |
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What You'll Learn
Pets reduce anxiety and speed up healing
Pets have been shown to reduce anxiety and speed up healing in hospital patients. Research has indicated that dogs reduce anxiety in hospital settings, which is important because anxiety can slow healing. The concept of Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) arose from observations that patients with pets at home recover from surgical and medical procedures more rapidly than patients without pets.
The presence of pets can provide enormous comfort to hospitalised patients. Rev. Susan Roy, director of Pastoral Care Services at the University of Maryland Medical Center, started the Faithful Friends personal pet visitation program at the hospital in 2008. She noted that "some of our patients are hospitalized for upwards of six months or longer. When a family pet visits, it's a real morale booster for the patient. It's comforting for them to be able to bring a piece of their normal life to the hospital."
Pat Kirkland, manager of Family Support Services and head of the Healing Paws program at Wolfson Children's Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, agrees. She noted that pets can provide comfort to their owners by understanding their pain. "We had one patient who was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident. His dog, a 100-pound Mastiff, was placed on a gurney that we could raise up to bed level. The dog then got onto the bed and lay perfectly still next to his owner for hours," she said.
While there are health and safety concerns to consider when allowing pets in hospitals, the benefits of reduced anxiety and improved healing for patients should not be overlooked. Hospitals that do allow pets often have strict standards, requiring that pets are up to date on vaccines, house-trained, clean, and healthy. Additionally, patients and staff should routinely wash their hands or use hand sanitiser after contact with animals.
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Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) enhances wellness
Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is a goal-directed intervention that incorporates animals into the treatment process provided by a credentialed therapist. AAT enhances wellness and speeds up recovery from surgical and medical procedures. The presence of animals has been shown to reduce anxiety in patients, which can otherwise slow down healing. This form of therapy is especially beneficial for certain patient populations, such as children, the elderly, and extended-care hospitalized patients.
The concept of AAT arose from the observation that patients with pets at home tend to recover faster from medical procedures than those without. Pets provide enormous comfort and support to their owners, and this remains true when individuals are hospitalized. The benefits of AAT are also extended to the therapy animals themselves, who have been observed to understand their owner's pain and the need for comfort.
While AAT is largely supported by anecdotal reports and observations, many hospitals are adopting this approach and allowing animal visitation. Hospitals that employ therapy dogs have reported positive outcomes, with patients experiencing improved morale and comfort from being able to bring a piece of their normal life into the hospital.
However, it is important to note that the implementation of AAT requires careful consideration of certain factors. Resident-animal programs should not allow animals into areas housing immunocompromised patients, and proper measures must be in place to manage the disposal of animal feces and urine to prevent environmental contamination. Additionally, patients and staff should maintain good hygiene practices, such as regularly washing their hands after contact with animals.
Overall, animal-assisted therapy is a valuable approach that enhances the wellness of patients, providing comfort and support during their hospitalization.
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Hospitals with a home-like environment have resident animals
Many hospitals are adopting more home-like environments for long-term patients in acute-care settings, and resident animals are an element of this approach. The "Eden Alternative" concept, for example, incorporates children, plants, and animals such as dogs, cats, fish, birds, rabbits, and rodents into the daily care setting.
Resident-animal programs in acute-care facilities should not allow animals into areas where immunocompromised patients are housed. Patients and staff should also routinely wash their hands or use hand sanitiser after coming into contact with animals. Additionally, animals with diarrhea should receive veterinary care to resolve their condition.
While the concept of working with resident animals has not been scientifically evaluated, animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has been shown to enhance wellness in certain patient populations, including children, the elderly, and extended-care hospitalized patients. AAT is a goal-directed intervention that incorporates an animal into the treatment process provided by a credentialed therapist.
Some hospitals have their own therapy dogs, while others only allow service or therapy animals. Hospitals that do allow personal pets have strict standards, requiring that the animal be up to date on vaccines, house-trained, clean, and healthy. Hospitals may also restrict visits to long-term patients, end-of-life patients, or children.
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Service animals are allowed under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires State and local government agencies, businesses, and non-profit organizations that provide goods or services to the public to make "reasonable modifications" to their policies to accommodate people with disabilities. This includes allowing service animals into their facilities, even if they have a "no pets" policy. Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Miniature horses can also be considered service animals if they meet certain requirements, such as being housebroken and under the owner's control.
Service animals are allowed to accompany their handlers in most places where members of the public are allowed to go. This includes restaurants, hotels, and communal food preparation areas. In hospitals, service animals are generally allowed in all areas accessible to the public but may be restricted from certain areas, such as operating rooms or areas where immunocompromised patients are housed, to maintain a sterile environment. Religious institutions and organizations are exempt from the ADA, but state laws may still apply.
When it comes to transportation, service animals are generally allowed to ride in ambulances with their handlers. However, if the space is crowded and the dog's presence interferes with medical staff's ability to treat the patient, alternative arrangements must be made. Additionally, airlines are governed by the Air Carrier Access Act, which protects the rights of people with disabilities during air travel.
It is important to note that emotional support, therapy, comfort, or companion animals are not considered service animals under the ADA. These terms refer to animals that provide comfort simply by being present, but they have not been trained to perform specific tasks related to a person's disability. While some state or local governments allow emotional support animals in public places, they do not have the same legal protections as service animals under the ADA.
In summary, service animals are allowed under the ADA in most places that are open to the public, including hospitals. They provide essential assistance to individuals with disabilities and must be accommodated even in facilities with "no pets" policies. However, there are exceptions for certain areas within hospitals and other specialized environments where the animal's presence may pose a risk to health or safety.
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Therapy dogs are not the same as personal pets
While therapy dogs and personal pets may both provide comfort and support, there are several key differences between the two.
Firstly, therapy dogs are specifically trained to provide emotional support and therapeutic assistance to individuals or groups outside of their handlers. They are encouraged to interact with a wide range of people and are often handled by their owners or trained professionals during visits to hospitals, schools, and other facilities. Therapy dogs are not considered service dogs and do not have the same legal access to public areas as service dogs. They are typically enrolled in therapy dog programs and must undergo a training and certification process to ensure they meet the required standards of obedience and behaviour.
On the other hand, personal pets do not usually undergo specialized training to provide therapeutic support. While they may offer comfort and companionship to their owners, they are not specifically trained to assist individuals with disabilities or perform specific tasks. Personal pets are generally not allowed in hospitals due to health and safety concerns, as well as the potential for disruption to the hospital environment.
Furthermore, service dogs, which are a type of assistance animal, are specifically trained to work with and assist individuals with disabilities. They are protected by laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and are allowed in public places alongside their handlers. Service dogs are considered working dogs and are not considered pets. They often have a ""no petting" policy to maintain focus on their handlers and tasks.
While therapy dogs and personal pets may share similarities in providing emotional support, the distinction lies in the specialized training and purpose of therapy dogs and service dogs. Therapy dogs are trained to provide therapeutic assistance in specific settings, while personal pets primarily offer companionship and are not afforded the same legal access or protections as service animals.
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Frequently asked questions
Pets can provide enormous comfort and reduce anxiety in hospitalised patients. Research shows that patients with pets at home tend to recover from surgical and medical procedures more rapidly than patients without pets.
Allowing pets in hospitals can pose health and safety risks to patients and staff. There is also a risk of environmental contamination by zoonotic microorganisms. Additionally, there may be concerns about the behaviour of the pet, especially if it is unsocialised or anxious.
Hospitals that allow pets typically require that the pet is up to date on vaccines, house-trained, clean, and healthy. The pet must also be well-behaved and quiet around strangers. Some hospitals may restrict visits to long-term patients, end-of-life patients, or children.
