Chicago Hospital Allows Pets to Visit Patients

Petside.com ^ | 3/28/13 | Jo Singer

[Slings and Arrows]

Anyone who has shared their life with a companion animal and bonded closely has experienced a healing relationship. We are truly blessed with their capacity to offer unconditional love. Just being in their presence gives us such an abundance of joy and happiness.

It’s an undisputed fact that animals are highly intuitive beings who excel in the art of healing. The majority of cat lovers will wholeheartedly agree that there is nothing more relaxing and soothing than having a purring kitty on their lap. In fact, those of us who are insomniacs are often quickly lulled off to dreamland. 

Animals help humans in so many ways, by teaching us about unconditional love, trust and loyalty. As a result, companion animals often make excellent therapists. Given the right temperament and appropriate training, pets that are used in animal-assisted therapeutic programs, give great solace to elderly nursing home residents and make a huge difference in their lives. Therapy cats and dogs can greatly transform the lives of folks suffering from stress disorders and those who are lonely and depressed.

Despite the healing ability of the human-pet relationship, the majority of hospitals in the United States refuse to authorize their patients to have even a short visit with their beloved furry family member. Hospital administrators justify their refusal to allow pets for visits with concerns that range from the risk of infection to libel.

But according to The Commercial Appeal, after three years of analysis over logistics, cleanliness and costs and believing that the benefits outweigh the risks, Chicago’s Rush University Medical Center has joined a dozen other hospitals around the country by compassionately opening their doors to allow patients to receive visits from their pets in their rooms.

Before this forward-thinking decision was made, some sympathetic staff sometimes arranged “clandestine” visits for patients be with their pets. Others looked the other way while a visitor snuck an adored kitty or pooch into a patient’s room for a few minutes. However the good news is that all of that subterfuge is a thing of the past, since pet visits are now out in the open and totally legal.

This said the hospital does have a few regulations for pet visits. Only cats and dogs are presently allowed. Everyone concerned must consent to the visit, including the attending physician. If the pet has an "accident" the pet handler must clean up the mess. Environmental services will then sanitize the area. The pet must be bathed and groomed prior to the visit and is not allowed to interact with any other patients.

A patient at Rush University Medical Center who has ovarian cancer expressed her gratitude about being able to spend some quality time with her pet Dachshund said, “It just gives me a little piece of home. It’s just wonderful to have someone to hug and help me deal with things.” I can only imagine the joy of other Rush patients are feeling, being able to spend precious moments with their beloved furry friend

[Eaker]

Your pit bull comment only accents your ignorance about the VAST majority of pets.

I pity your type.

Ann Archy is FR's 'lil ray of sunshine.

Her type is the reason that I like dogs a lot and people not so much.

Just to make her day, here is my great big coon hound sleeping in a min pin bed.

My pit mix when he was a puppy with his first Glock.

The wee Phudd chasing cows.

My pit fighting a min pin.

Ditter's doggie. Now who the hell wouldn't love a visit with this pup?

TheOldLady's cat's new bed.................

The latest news report about humblegunner.

And finally my Foster, we call this one "A Corgi in a laundry basket."

[Eaker]

Damn, missed you on the ping.

I just don’t seem to have a National Tattler photo of yer cats handy!

[humblegunner]

How did I make it into that lineup?

I never saw them hookers as pets and I wouldn’t want ‘em near me in a hospital.

[Moonman62]

My friend just had a shoulder replacement and had to buy a VERY EXPENSIVE SOAP to clean herself with one WEEK before she came in for the operation because of GERMS and infections running rampant in the hospitals!!

Hibiclens is not that expensive and it is used to kill the germs already on the patient.

[Focault's Pendulum]

Would love to see the parrot cross-examined in court!

Lawyer: Mr. Parrot. Did you or did you not say something libelous to my client?
Parrot: F@#ck you!
Parrot owner: Your Honor, my parrot only knows those two words.
Judge: Mr Parrot do you in fact know only those two words?
Parrot: F@#ck you too!
Parrot owner: Your Honor, I honestly don't know how he learned that third word!
Parrot to owner: Go f@#ck yourself!
Lawyer: I rest my case!

[Veto!]

Could someone bring my therapy snake to to the hospital? Pretty please?

http://desktopia.net/wp-content/uploads/walls/thumbs/Yellow-Python-575x431.jpg

[Eaker]

My friend, the world needs you because you taught Charlie Sheen all he knows.

You are a National Treasure.

[ilovesarah2012]

ROFL

[Slings and Arrows]

I don't have any good photos of my cats - trying to get them to sit still is an exercise in futility. Still, here are Zia (top) and Misty:

And here are Misty and Deimos:

[Brad’s Gramma]

A couple of years ago my GSD and I schlepped on an airplane from Southern California to WisCANsin to say goodbye to my Daddy who was in a nursing home.

Oh. My. GOSH, was she well received. Smiles all around on otherwise grumpy, nothing to live for, expressions on their faces.

It was WELL worth it....in oh, so many ways.

Then a couple of weeks ago I brought BOTH dogs into a hospital to visit Gramps. Ditto that. LOTS of smiles all the way around.

[Ann Archy]

That’s lovely....especially when so many hospitals don’t let CHILDREN come into the rooms.

[Brad’s Gramma]

I have no clue why.... they (both places) let my dog(s) in.

Maybe it’s my winning personality? Ha!

[Eaker]

BG’s GSDs rock!

[Brad’s Gramma]

Ja Herr Eaker

That they do...... ;)

[Eaker]

especially when so many hospitals don’t let CHILDREN come into the rooms.

I was born in the '50s, but what is it like to still live in them?

My grandson was actually born in a hospital room and they didn't bum rush him into the parking lot.

Here is Kaiden at a hospital staff "lunch & learn" meeting.

[Focault's Pendulum]

Maybe it’s my winning personality? Ha!

Or perhaps it's that winning look in your eyes that says "Shall you let my dogs in, or shall you be scarred for life?"

BTW lost your phone#.

[Cementjungle]

OK, that's exactly one good thing to come out of Chicago.

Possibly, but they're probably thinking of conjugal visits.

[Cuttnhorse]

In my little town we used to have a miniature horse named Tater Tot who was allowed in the local nursing-extended care facility.
Little guy brought a lot of joy to those folks. He finally retired last year.

[Salamander]

Thanks for answering that one.

I was too stunned to even form a coherent thought.

8-O

[Cuttnhorse]

Tater Tot was always welcome in the local nursing home in my little town.