August 1 , 2003

Dog days of summer: Pet therapy brings smiles

Meetings at the MGH have gone to the dogs — or so it seemed during a recent Patient Care Services Executive Committee meeting in the Trustees Room. Tabor, a black Labrador retriever, was part of a follow-up presentation about the MGH Pet Therapy Program pilot.

The Pet Therapy Program, which started Feb. 18, has been viewed as highly successful, according to patients who have participated. The Pet Therapy Program gives patients the opportunity to receive a visit from a furry, friendly, specially trained dog and a handler. One patient said: "This is a wonderful idea. If I had this joyous 'dog fix' a week ago, I'd be days ahead in my healing." Another patient said, "I thought I would not smile today — then I saw Maggie [a volunteer dog]."

At right, volunteer Bobbi Evans, left, with Coakley and Tabor

After each pet visit, patients and staff complete a questionnaire to indicate the effect of the pet visit as well as answer questions such as how long they had been at the MGH and if they would recommend a pet visit to other patients. There have been 303 pet therapy visits with 161 evaluation forms completed. Out of the 161 evaluations, 156 people said they would recommend a pet visit to other patients.

The program, which takes place on White 7, Ellison 7, White 11, Bigelow 11 and Bigelow 14 Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, plans to expand to the Coronary Care Unit and MassGeneral Hospital for Children in the fall and then eventually to all inpatient units.

For more information, contact Mandi Coakley, RN, at (617) 726-5334.