Pawsome! Mercy welcomes four-legged volunteers to Perrysburg Hospital

        Mercy Health – Perrysburg Hospital is going to the dogs – the wet-nosed, wagging tail, fluffy kind, that is.             Recently, Mercy Health introduced a new initiative that will provide comforting stress relief for hospital team members, while also offering some delightful companionship during their workday.
        Starting last month, six human-canine volunteer teams began visiting the hospital to bring much-needed emotional, psychological, and physical benefits to Mercy Health team members.
        While pet therapy has long been a beneficial part of patient care in health care settings, Mercy Health is focusing this new program on enhancing the well-being of its staff.
        “Unlike other professions, it often isn’t possible for a direct caregiver to step away from their patients to take a walk or recharge their batteries during their shift. Our visiting dogs provide a few minutes of cheerful distraction for staff, without them needing to leave their work area,” said Alison Avendt, president of Mercy Health – Perrysburg Hospital. “Our teams can decompress, get down at eye level with a furry volunteer, and enjoy nuzzles and kisses. Who doesn’t smile when they see a tail-wagging, happy dog?”
        The dog teams, which were selected through a rigorous vetting process, are all certified through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs, a national organization that certifies and supports therapy dog teams. The dogs are bathed regularly to ensure hygiene, and staff are required to wash their hands before and after interacting with the pups.
        Each department leader met with their designated therapy dog team to establish a schedule that best suits their department, ensuring the program is integrated as seamlessly as possible into their day-to-day operations.
        Ellie Ryan, PT, DPT, works with patients at Mercy Health Outpatient Rehabilitation and Therapy. She said her own joy in coming home to her furry friend led her to think others would benefit from meeting Sophie, a German Shorthaired Pointer.
        “As a physical therapist working with individuals of the neurological population, Sophie never fails to put a smile on my face after a long day at work. If she can make me this happy, I wondered what she could do for others in stressful situations,” Ellie said. “When entering the hospital, Sophie’s tail never stops wagging and just as she does for me, she is able to put a smile on the face of nearly everyone she comes in contact with.
        “In a study put out by the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association), animal-assisted interventions with therapy dogs showed a statistically significant reduction in stress in as brief as a five-minute interaction with healthcare workers,” Ryan said. “In a few simple words, we hope to lessen subjectively experienced stress and anxiety in the healthcare setting.”
        The new initiative has already proven to bring smiles to the team and strengthen the sense of community  the Perrysburg hospital, as the six canine-human teams can be found in the hospital visiting various departments throughout the week.
        “I believe that Henry helps in a very calming and soothing way,” said Anna King, who visits with her 5-year Golden Retriever. “Medical staff are often in a stressful environment and interacting with a therapy dog can help lower that stress and give a mood boosting effect. The therapy opportunities have changed my life through the social interactions, and I hope to have been a bright spot to someone's day.”