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CHICAGO
— Anyone who has felt a connection with a pet
understands why Bernadette Slesinski-Evans needed her
faithful dachshund with her in the hospital.
But
for seriously ill patients such as Slesinski-Evans, a
request to spend a few precious hours with a beloved
animal usually has been rejected, with administrators
citing reasons that ranged from risk of infection to
liability issues.
That
all changed this month when Sadie scampered onto the lap
of her 57-year-old owner, and Rush University Medical
Center became what is believed to be the first
Chicago-area hospital to adopt a formal policy allowing
visits from pets in patients’ rooms.
"It
just gives me a little piece of home," said the Oak
Lawn resident with ovarian cancer, smothering Sadie with
kisses. The canine reciprocated, unperturbed by the
oxygen tube attached to her master. "It’s just
wonderful to have someone to hug … and help me deal
with things."
The
new policy was approved in December after three years of
study and debate about cleanliness, cost and logistics.
Ultimately, Rush decided that the emotional charge a
patient gets from time with his or her own pet
outweighed the risks. So officials moved forward,
joining about a dozen other hospitals nationwide with
similar regulations, they said.
After
numerous requests, Rush launched a task force to study
the pet policy in 2010. Slesinski-Evans was the first to
take advantage of the change, and Sadie became the
pioneer pooch, arriving fresh from the groomer with a
Valentine’s Day kerchief.
At
the outset, Diane Gallagher, Rush’s associate vice
president of nursing operations and an unabashed
advocate, told her task force colleagues: "For
those of you who are dog lovers, this will be a piece of
cake. The rest of you will just have to trust me."
In
the past, health care professionals usually had no
choice but to deny a plea from a patient to nuzzle a
beloved pet. Sometimes, clinicians would look the other
way while a relative would sneak Fido or Snowball up a
back elevator — usually at night or on the weekend. A
few area hospitals allow visits from pets in the lobby
or restricted areas, but until now, none formally
allowed them into patient rooms.
Once,
the staff at Rush went to elaborate lengths to bring a
patient’s dog to the roof, hoping to give the owner
one last look from his bedside — only to have the
patient die a day before the plan could be executed,
officials said.
"We
all felt a great deal of sadness," Gallagher said.
"We want to have a safe environment, but we also
want to make sure patients get the support they
need."
Task
force members had to address a wide range of scenarios
that could interfere with patient care or potentially
damage the hospital’s reputation.
What
if someone brings a boa constrictor or a Bengal tiger?
What if a roommate objects? And, what if there’s an
accident?
The
answers can all be found on the 21-item checklist: Only
dogs and cats are allowed. Everyone must consent to the
visit, including the attending physician. And any
soiling will be disposed of and cleaned up by the pet
handler, followed by environmental services sanitizing
the area.
Other
requirements include proof of rabies vaccination, no
interaction with other patients and a bath and brushing
for the animal before the visit.
Gallagher
is old enough to remember other once-sacred hospital
rules that have fallen by the wayside, such as not
allowing fathers in delivery rooms or visiting hours
that were strictly enforced.
"All
those changes happened … and the sky didn’t
fall," she said, adding that she expects the same
positive outcomes with four-footed visitors.
However,
the skeptics needed more. So the task force reached out
to large institutions that already had a successful pet
visitation program — such as the University of Iowa
Hospitals and Clinics and the University of Maryland
Medical Center.
At
Iowa, the "Furry Friends" program has been in
place since 2000 without a single incident, according to
Jean Reed, director of volunteer services.
"It’s
a win-win all around — not just for the patient, but
for the staff and the family, who frequently feel
powerless," Reed said.
The
Rev. Susan Carole Roy, director of pastoral care
services at the University of Maryland Medical Center,
also reported no problems since the hospital started
allowing animal companions in 2008.
"Our
pets are an integral part of our everyday lives, and
they share in our greatest joys and darkest hours,"
said Roy. "For patients to be able to re-connect
with their pets — even for a short period of time —
can really be very meaningful. It allows them to get in
touch with a part of their lives that is often lost when
they become patients."
No
one had to convince Slesinski-Evans, an assistant
payroll supervisor at Tootsie Roll Industries. She was
diagnosed in 2010 and has been in and out of Rush,
including her current hospitalization for pain
management, which began Jan. 28.
When
a nurse noticed photos of Slesinski-Evans’ three dogs,
she informed the patient of the new pet policy. Less
than 48 hours later, in strolled Sadie, blithely unaware
of her trailblazer status.
"Dogs
are just like people," Slesinski-Evans. "They
have thoughts, feelings, they love to be cuddled. You
can get mad at them and yell at them and still, their
love is constant."
The
mother of three and grandmother of four has made
provisions in her will for the care of Sadie and her
other two pets, a collie and an Australian sheepdog.
When
it was all over, the patient said she felt "great
joy" — as did Gallagher.
"We
went through multiple revisions, but it was worth every
minute. What we wanted was a Kodak moment."
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