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Lake City Medical Center introduces new therapy
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By JUSTIN LANG jlang@lakecityreporter.com
Some patients at the Lake City Medical Center received a special Valentine's visit Monday afternoon from therapist Pepi McClead.
Her first time at the medical center, Pepi was pleased to receive a joyous welcome from all staff and patients she came across.
So enthusiastic she was, Pepi soon went into the room of 93-year-old patient Clarice Witt of Lake City, jumped into the bed and curled up right beside her. For anyone else, the behavior might seem odd, but being a black, white and brown Pappillon, it was excused and even welcomed.
A certified pet therapy dog, Pepi was at the medical center Monday for the facility's first day of offering the service to its patients.
Delores Brannen, director of marketing, said it was a delightful coincidence the first day also happened to be Valentine's Day. But she said the planning for pet therapy at Lake City Medical Center actually began about three months ago as a way to further expand its range of patient care.
"It's just another service we wanted to be able to offer our patients," she said. "We want them to feel at home here, so we want to bring the pet to them."
Kathy Wisner of Columbia County Senior Services is helping to coordinate pet therapy at the medical center and brought Pepi around to patients on Monday.
Pepi is owned by Don and Mary McClead (Mary is a painting instructor for Senior Services) and had to undergo both training and an extensive health certification to become an official pet therapy dog. Since being certified, she has made previous therapy visits to patients at North Florida Regional Medical Center in Gainesville.
Dr. Brent Hayden, who happened upon Pepi in the halls of the local medical center Monday, said he is in favor of pet therapy and cited documented evidence to support its benefits.
Hayden said medical studies have shown "people who have pets at home live longer and healthier than people who don't."
If patients welcome pet therapy dogs, he said their presence can only be beneficial.
"It's got my vote," he said. "When you look at the evidence, it's hard to argue the facts."
Wisner said by working with North Florida Paws to offer the training, more local dogs with easy-going, kind temperaments can be certified as pet therapy dogs.
While the service will be offered at the medical center at least twice a month for now, she said she hopes the frequency will soon increase as more dogs receive training and certification.
Wisner said a miniature schnauzer is also expected to start making pet therapy visits to the medical center by next week.
For patient Linda Sirota of Wellborn, herself a dog owner, it was nice to have Pepi brighten her time at the medical center Monday.
"I love animals and I think anybody who is sick, if they have an animal coming in (their room), it just makes them feel better."
Her first time at the medical center, Pepi was pleased to receive a joyous welcome from all staff and patients she came across.
So enthusiastic she was, Pepi soon went into the room of 93-year-old patient Clarice Witt of Lake City, jumped into the bed and curled up right beside her. For anyone else, the behavior might seem odd, but being a black, white and brown Pappillon, it was excused and even welcomed.
A certified pet therapy dog, Pepi was at the medical center Monday for the facility's first day of offering the service to its patients.
Delores Brannen, director of marketing, said it was a delightful coincidence the first day also happened to be Valentine's Day. But she said the planning for pet therapy at Lake City Medical Center actually began about three months ago as a way to further expand its range of patient care.
"It's just another service we wanted to be able to offer our patients," she said. "We want them to feel at home here, so we want to bring the pet to them."
Kathy Wisner of Columbia County Senior Services is helping to coordinate pet therapy at the medical center and brought Pepi around to patients on Monday.
Pepi is owned by Don and Mary McClead (Mary is a painting instructor for Senior Services) and had to undergo both training and an extensive health certification to become an official pet therapy dog. Since being certified, she has made previous therapy visits to patients at North Florida Regional Medical Center in Gainesville.
Dr. Brent Hayden, who happened upon Pepi in the halls of the local medical center Monday, said he is in favor of pet therapy and cited documented evidence to support its benefits.
Hayden said medical studies have shown "people who have pets at home live longer and healthier than people who don't."
If patients welcome pet therapy dogs, he said their presence can only be beneficial.
"It's got my vote," he said. "When you look at the evidence, it's hard to argue the facts."
Wisner said by working with North Florida Paws to offer the training, more local dogs with easy-going, kind temperaments can be certified as pet therapy dogs.
While the service will be offered at the medical center at least twice a month for now, she said she hopes the frequency will soon increase as more dogs receive training and certification.
Wisner said a miniature schnauzer is also expected to start making pet therapy visits to the medical center by next week.
For patient Linda Sirota of Wellborn, herself a dog owner, it was nice to have Pepi brighten her time at the medical center Monday.
"I love animals and I think anybody who is sick, if they have an animal coming in (their room), it just makes them feel better."
. wrote on Jan 30, 2008 11:01 AM: