ANIMALS VISITING HEALTHCARE FACILITIES

1. ANIMALS VISITING HEALTHCARE FACILITIES Kit Darling, MS, CIC, M, MT(ASCP) Texas A&M University

2. OBJECTIVES • Definitions • Benefits • Animal Guidelines • Infection Control and Safety • Personal Pets • Positive Outcomes • Service Animals

3. DEFINITIONS • Animal visitationis a short-term intervention to help improve the patient’s well being and reduce loneliness. The animal initiates contact with the patient and the direction of the visit is determined by the patient’s needs at that particular time.

4. ANIMAL-ASSISTED VISITATION

5. DEFINITIONS • Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is a goal-directed intervention in which an animal meets specific criteria as an integral part in the treatment process.

6. ANIMAL-ASSISTED THERAPY

7. BENEFITS • Some Reasons for Animal Assisted Therapy/Animal Assisted Activities (AAT/AAA) • Lowers blood pressure • Relieves stress/anxiety • Promotes relaxation • Decreases loneliness • Increases activity level • Improves communication • Provides enhanced social opportunities

8. ANIMALS IN HEALTHCARE FACILITIES • Establishing guidelines and policies is useful to provide for a safe environmental for both humans and animals in a healthcare setting.

9. ANIMAL GUIDELINES • Must be domestic companion animal • Not have been a resident of the animal shelter for at least 6 months • Must be at least 1 year old • Registered or certified for AAA/AAT • Pass health, skills, aptitude and temperament tests • Never leave alone with a patient • Restrict animals from food preparation and other high risk areas

10. PATIENT EXCULSIONS • Allergies to animals • Open wounds or burns • Open tracheotomy • Agitation or aggression • Fear of animals

11. PATIENT EXCLUSIONS 6. Infected or colonized with • Tuberculosis • Salmonella • Campylobacter • Streptococcus A • MRSA • Ringworm • Parasites such as giardia and amebas

12. INFECTION CONTROL AND SAFETY • Zoonosis is the transmission of diseases between animals and humans. • Zoonotic Diseases of Importance in U. S. 2008 – Compendium of Veterinary Standard Precautions

13. INFECTION CONTROL AND SAFETY • Animal must be bathed with allergen-reducing or mild shampoo within 24 hours before the visit. • Animal must have clean ears and nails short with no rough edges or wear protective foot coverings. • Free of any skin conditions or wounds • Healthy and current on vaccinations • Handler healthy and free of communicable diseases

14. INFECTION CONTROL AND SAFETY • Animal is not to lick or be in contact with patient’s open wound. • Animal is kept on a short leash or is in a carrier or basket. • When the visit or interaction is finished, the patient must wash his/her hands or use an alcohol hand sanitizer.

15. Handler should watch the animal for signs of stress.

16. PERSONAL PETS • A personal pet visit may be the best treatment intervention for the health and well being of a patient in special situations especially long-termed or terminally ill. • Personal pet visits require just as stringent a policy as does visitation by certified animals.

17. PERSONAL PETS • Pet must be bathed within 24 hours before the visit. • Record of current vaccination must be provided. • Pet must be on a short leash or in a carrier.

18. PERSONAL PETS • Pet must be escorted into and out of the facility with a trained staff person. • Pet must interact only with the patient who is their owner. • Visits are limited. • Animal may be asked to leave at any time.

19. POSITIVE OUTCOMES • Patients confident to return home and tend to their own personal pet rather than having some one else feed and water • Patients that have been unresponsive to traditional treatments reach out to an animal or change facial expressions • Patients complete thirty to forty-five minute treatment without complaint of pain or fatigue • Patients able to recall dogs name, when they can't remember staff they see daily

20. PATIENTS WORKING WITH ANIMALS

21. PATIENTS WORKING WITH ANIMALS

22. JOY

23. SERVICE ANIMAL • Legal term defined by the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) enacted in 1990 • Any animal that assists a person with disabilities with one or more daily activities • Includes mobility, sound alert, seizure alert, emotional support

24. SERVICE ANIMAL • ADA prohibits public accommodations from requiring proof of the animal’s training or person’s disability in order to access the facility. • U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights division advises places to accept verbal reassurance from the person with disability that the animal is a service animal.

25. SERVICE ANIMALS • Healthcare facilities (hospitals, clinics, doctor offices, laboratories, etc.) are covered by ADA and are considered places of public access. • Title III of ADA require places of public access to modify their practices and policies to permit the use of service animals unless it would cause direct threat to safety of others or to their facility.

26. SERVICES ANIMAL • Healthcare facilities are required to make their goods and services available to the handler accompanied by the service animal without isolating, segregating or otherwise discriminating against the person. • Must differentiate between an actual risk and the inconvenience or displeasure with the presence of the service animal • May be denied access to operating rooms and birthing rooms.

27. Conclusions Healthcare facilities must establish animal and handler guidelines and program specific infection prevention policies to provide a safe environment for patients, animals, and handlers.

28. QUESTIONS kdarling@cvm.tamu.edu