Therapy dogs help bring a smile to WHS nurses, staff
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Health-care workers in Washington Hospital无毛视频檚 critical care unit shower therapy dog Snoop with love. Snoop, a gentle golden doodle, picks up the spirits of exhausted health-care workers when he visits.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
An EMS worker stops mid-stride to pat Izzy the therapy dog in the Washington Hospital emergency department. ED personnel look forward to visits from Izzy, a former dock diving champion, who brightens their long days.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
A Washington Hospital cafeteria worker ducks into the critical care unit无毛视频檚 break room to pet Snoop, one of the hospital无毛视频檚 therapy dogs. Research shows that petting a dog boosts mood and reduces anxiety.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Snoop, Washington Hospital无毛视频檚 100-pound therapy dog, leans into a loving pat from Cindy Hazuga, a care partner. Snoop无毛视频檚 visits to the CCU lift health-care workers无毛视频� morale and bring a little joy to their long, exhausting shifts.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Nurse John Patterson gives Izzy a long pat on the back as the 12-year-old therapy dog passes him in the emergency department hallway. Former police Chief Marke Pompe began bringing Izzy to comfort patients, and the Labrador retriever has been great comfort to health-care staff throughout the pandemic.
Man无毛视频檚 best friend is helping nurses and staff at Washington Health System cope with the stress and burnout from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Therapy dogs Izzy and Snoop have been making regular rounds at Washington Hospital and WHS Greene, where they happily accept the hugs, pats, and treats from worn-out staff, whose spirits are buoyed by the canines.
Izzy is a 12-year-old Labrador retriever. A former dock diving champion, she roams the hallways, often with a rubber ball in her mouth, which she enthusiastically chases down for anyone who will toss it for her.
Before the pandemic, Izzy无毛视频檚 owner, Mark Pompe, WHS chief of police, brought her to both WHS hospitals to comfort patients.
无毛视频淪ince COVID, I started bringing her around more for the staff. I bring her in, and she goes on her way, and I know she无毛视频檒l come back in about an hour or so,无毛视频� said Pompe. 无毛视频淓very day I hear, 无毛视频榃hen are you bringing Izzy in?'无毛视频�
She even rides on elevators to spread her puppy love.
In the critical care unit, Shellie Popeck, Director of CCU, Anesthesia, PACU, OPSU, PAT, and GI, brings her golden doodle, Snoop.
The gentle 100-pound giant recently earned his novice emotional therapy dog badge after four months of training.
Snoop spends about 45 minutes every other week in the conference room, where nurse无毛视频檚 aides and other employees duck in for a snuggle.
Popeck got the idea after seeing how students at Washington & Jefferson College react to Snoop when she takes him on walks around campus.
无毛视频淪tudents are excited to stop and pet him, and always comment how much they love seeing him and what great therapy he provides them,无毛视频� said Popeck. 无毛视频淚t made me think of the impact he could have with staff. I live close to the hospital, so I knew I could bring Snoop up essentially anytime they are having a particularly rough day or just want to see him.无毛视频�
Studies show that petting a dog is beneficial for several reasons: among them, it releases serotonin, and it decreases heart rate and anxiety.
The minutes of comfort Izzy and Snoop provide have been important in recent months, as hospitals throughout the area, including WHS, saw some of their highest COVID-19 numbers since the pandemic began.
无毛视频淲e love Snoop. He gives us a morale boost,无毛视频� said CCU nurse Nicole Carson. 无毛视频淎s soon as we hear Snoop无毛视频檚 here, we无毛视频檙e all running toward him. I love when he无毛视频檚 here. He lifts us all up.无毛视频�