Stevenson Memorial Hospital is introducing a new Therapy Dog Program, in partnership with St. John Ambulance, aimed at providing additional comfort and wellness support for both patients and staff.
The program officially launches on Wednesday, June 17th, with certified therapy dog Nova and her handler visiting the hospital every two weeks as part of the hospital’s Wellness Wednesday initiative.
Visits will take place in the afternoon and will see the therapy dog team travel through designated areas of the hospital, offering opportunities for patients and staff to interact with Nova. Hospital officials say all patient visits will occur only with the consent of patients and their families.
The therapy dog and handler will be clearly identified as members of the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program while on site.
Hospital leaders say the initiative is designed to help create positive moments of connection and comfort in what can often be a stressful environment for both patients receiving care and healthcare workers providing it.
Research has shown that therapy dog programs can help reduce stress, anxiety, and feelings of isolation while encouraging emotional well-being and positive social interaction.
Stevenson Memorial Hospital says the partnership with St. John Ambulance is part of its ongoing efforts to enhance the patient and staff experience by supporting overall wellness and creating opportunities for meaningful human-animal interaction.
The hospital expects Nova’s bi-weekly visits to become a regular part of its wellness programming moving forward.
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