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Human Animal Solutions

Consulting

Hospitals

Many hospital staff members (administrators as well as direct-care staff) are interested in taking advantage of the human-animal bond – the relationship between people and animals – to assist their patients. One way of doing this is to offer animal-assisted interactions (AAIs) in the form of activities and/or therapy on the menu of healing options offered to patients.

The presence of trained and screened animals in therapy sessions can have a powerful, positive effect on people with an affinity for animals. Imagine someone who loves dogs and who has been hospitalized after a stroke. This person works on physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy exercises with average motivation. Now imagine bringing in a dog and asking the person to do the same therapy exercises, but with one major difference: the patient gets to work with the dog instead of the therapist’s cones or blocks or puzzle pieces. Can you see what a difference it can make if the goal is to reach out to pet a dog rather than reaching out to pick up a wooden block?

IF the animals are trained and screened. IF the patient is not fearful or allergic. IF the handler knows how to work both with the animal and with the patient. IF the facility staff know what to do to keep people safe.

As you can see, it is not as effortless as simply bringing in a dog. In order to be successful and safe for all involved (including the animal), lots of people need to know what they’re doing.

As a result, not all hospital staff have confidence that they can adequately address risk management. Areas like infection control, injury, fleas, animals acting badly, make them shudder – as well they should! Hospitals today are often struggling to make ends meet for essential services, and animals don’t seem essential. Is there a way to make ends meet and include animals? Yes! Human-Animal Solutions knows how.

We provide cost-effective consultation about all areas of developing a new or enhancing an existing AAI program. To assure quality and protect the consumer, AAI programs must be standards based. Ann Howie was part of the team of subject-matter experts who developed Standards of Practice in Animal-Assisted Activities & Therapy in 1989, so we are highly conversant in standards. We can help you avoid common pitfalls, and thus enhance staff, volunteer, and patient satisfaction – and save money.

We help you meet your needs for both people and animals. Here are some common areas about which our consultation services have been utilized:

• Policies and Practices: Do your current practices reduce risk and satisfy infection control? We are familiar with both hospital needs in written policies and the primary issues that must be addressed in animal-related policies. We will help you develop complete, standards-based policies and practices before animals are introduced in AAIs.
• Site Assessment: Do you know how your facility’s environment, dynamics, staff, and patients will affect the provision of AAIs? We do! We will tour your facility and meet with key staff members to evaluate your facility against Standards of Practice. We will provide you with a written report that includes individualized strengths and barriers, options, and a plan of action.
• Staff Training Do you know how to receive insurance reimbursement for AAT? Staff we train do! Staff learn how to work effectively with animals in the hospital environment: identify patients who are appropriate for AAIs, work effectively with the AAI provider, write AAT into patients’ treatment plans, and more.
• Volunteer Selection and Training: Most facilities utilize volunteers to stretch the most from their AAI dollar. We will help you add well-trained and screened volunteers who know how to provide AAIs.Basic training for volunteers includes the following and more:
  • Working effectively with staff
  • Following infection control procedures
  • Maintaining animal grooming for hospital environments
  • Assessing animal health prior to making a visit
  • Sharing the animal appropriately with specific hospital populations
• Screening is standards-based and behavioral – for both the animal and the handler! Screening is designed to measure the handler-animal team’s ability to inspire confidence in the people they visit. Screening includes the following and more:
  • Behavioral predictability in common situations found in hospitals

• Handler’s ability to manage his/her animal while working effectively with patients and staff
• Animal’s ability to engage appropriately with patients and staff while still working as a team with handler
• Handler’s ability to provide guidance to the animal in a conversational, non-threatening wayYou will be assured that the volunteers entering your program are suitable and qualified to meet your needs.

• Credentialing Body Survey preparation: We help you obtain high marks on your facility’s animal program in JCAHO, CARF, and local government surveys.

If you don’t find your issues in the above list, contact us for additional information.

© 2009 Human Animal Solutions. Photos by Frank Siteman