Cape Cod Healthcare’s Dogs On Call program has been bringing smiles, cheer and comfort to Cape Cod Hospital and Falmouth Hospital since 2019. Increasing in popularity for many years, animal-assisted therapy provides a welcome distraction and a sense of peace to patients, visitors and staff alike and is known to improve patients’ experiences, well-being and recovery.
Studies have shown simple, yet remarkable effects of animal-assisted therapy, including:
- Lessening of anxiety and loneliness
- Positive effects on patient pain level
- Increased satisfaction with their hospital stays
- Improvement on overall health and wellness
And it’s not just the patients who benefit from therapy dog visits! Furry friends also provide joy and stress relief to patient family members and visitors, and most especially, to staff throughout the hospitals.
Dogs On Call teams consist of a human handler, trained in animal-assisted therapy, and their therapy dog (the handler’s personal dog), who must be certified through a registered pet therapy organization. Handlers also become official hospital volunteers and must adhere to the policies and procedures of Cape Cod Healthcare’s Volunteer Services Department. Together, the teams follow strict infection-control guidelines, and all visits require signed patient consent.
Things to Know
- Dogs On Call certified therapy dogs are evaluated on their temperament, sociability and manners. They must meet specific criteria for hospital visitation, both physically and behaviorally.
- Patients having phobias or allergies to animals cannot participate in the Dogs On Call program.
- Dogs On Call visitation and access are not permitted in designated isolation rooms or rooms with posted precaution signs.
- Dogs On Call therapy dogs are the only dogs allowed to visit Cape Cod Healthcare facilities and only at designated times and in designated areas.
- Dogs participating in the Dogs On Call program are not service or emotional support animals.
Requirements for Certified Therapy Dog
- Calm, easy-going temperament
- Highly social with people
- Good manners
- Gets along with other dogs
How It Works
All therapy dog visits are arranged by the Dogs On Call coordinator, who works directly with patients and their care teams. Dogs and their handlers visit floors on a rotating basis each week.
For more information on the Dogs On Call program, please email Kerry Lawson (kelawson@capecodhealth.org) for Cape Cod Hospital and Susan Hanley (shanley@capecodhealth.org) for Falmouth Hospital.
