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The Best Medicine: Personal Pets and Therapy Animals in the Hospital Setting
Denise Barchas1, Melissa Melaragni1, Heather Abrahim2
1University of California San Francisco Medical Center, 505 Parnassus Avenue M902R, San Francisco, CA 94117, USA.
Abstract:
Companion animals can have a positive impact on people's health and well-being. Personal pet visitation and animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) can benefit patients' pain, blood pressure, stress, depression, and anxiety, as well as increasing mobility and socialization with staff and families. Implementing personal pet visitation and/or AAI programs requires the involvement of stakeholders from multiple disciplines. AAI is generally well received by staff. Animal presence in the intensive care unit carries few risks for humans and animals but is not risk free. Programs should be designed to minimize these risks. Effective planning can create programs that support patient-centered and family-centered care.
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