Weekly pet therapy now offered at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital.
Interacting with animals through pet therapy has been shown to decrease cortisol levels, lower blood pressure, reduce loneliness, increase feelings of social support, and boost someone’s mood.
SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital recognizes the benefits of pet therapy and is expanding its pet therapy programming to meet the needs of patients. Additionally, this expansion will offer more opportunities for social visits and brighten the days of our patients and staff.
Starting this month, the Duo Dogs Touch Therapy program will join the pet therapy offerings at Cardinal Glennon. Before this expansion, CHAMP Assistance Dogs visited pediatric patients and staff twice a month; now, by adding Duo Dogs to the rotation, weekly pet therapy sessions will be offered.
Duo Dogs, Inc. is an accredited member of Assistance Dogs International. It provides extensive training and testing to ensure therapy dogs and their volunteer handlers meet high standards and complete certification before visiting pediatric patients.
With the expansion of pet therapy services, additional Care for the Caregiver programming for staff will also be available.
CHAMP and Duo Dogs will be available for social visits; weekly schedules will vary. Pet therapy patient visits can be requested through the unit Child Life specialist. Please remember that patients cannot be in isolation or allergic to animals.
“We are thrilled to add Duo Dogs to the monthly pet therapy rotation,” said Abbie Hedgpeth, Certified Child Life Specialist and Canine Assisted Intervention Specialist at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, “the presence of animals has so many physical, emotional and mental benefits that aid in the healing process for our patients. The increase of service offerings creates a dynamic, life-enhancing experience.”
SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital also is home to the facility dog Duo Dog Thor. Thor’s role at Cardinal Glennon differs from the CHAMP and Duo Dogs therapy dogs, as he is a full-time working dog whose intention is to meet the medical goals or treatment of patients and is not part of the pet therapy program. Thor has undergone rigorous training, specializing in procedural preparation and support, medical desensitization, and pain management.
Interacting with animals through pet therapy has been shown to decrease cortisol levels, lower blood pressure, reduce loneliness, increase feelings of social support, and boost someone’s mood.
SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital recognizes the benefits of pet therapy and is expanding its pet therapy programming to meet the needs of patients. Additionally, this expansion will offer more opportunities for social visits and brighten the days of our patients and staff.
Starting this month, the Duo Dogs Touch Therapy program will join the pet therapy offerings at Cardinal Glennon. Before this expansion, CHAMP Assistance Dogs visited pediatric patients and staff twice a month; now, by adding Duo Dogs to the rotation, weekly pet therapy sessions will be offered.
Duo Dogs, Inc. is an accredited member of Assistance Dogs International. It provides extensive training and testing to ensure therapy dogs and their volunteer handlers meet high standards and complete certification before visiting pediatric patients.
With the expansion of pet therapy services, additional Care for the Caregiver programming for staff will also be available.
CHAMP and Duo Dogs will be available for social visits; weekly schedules will vary. Pet therapy patient visits can be requested through the unit Child Life specialist. Please remember that patients cannot be in isolation or allergic to animals.
“We are thrilled to add Duo Dogs to the monthly pet therapy rotation,” said Abbie Hedgpeth, Certified Child Life Specialist and Canine Assisted Intervention Specialist at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, “the presence of animals has so many physical, emotional and mental benefits that aid in the healing process for our patients. The increase of service offerings creates a dynamic, life-enhancing experience.”
SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital also is home to the facility dog Duo Dog Thor. Thor’s role at Cardinal Glennon differs from the CHAMP and Duo Dogs therapy dogs, as he is a full-time working dog whose intention is to meet the medical goals or treatment of patients and is not part of the pet therapy program. Thor has undergone rigorous training, specializing in procedural preparation and support, medical desensitization, and pain management.
