Key Takeaways - July 6, 2020 | 8 a.m - Dorian, Golisano Children's Hospital Therapy Dog - Lee Health Foundation

Key Takeaways – July 6, 2020 | 8 a.m.
Dorian, Golisano Children’s Hospital Therapy Dog
Anna Stephanz, BS, and Erika Zalecky, MA, Lee Health Certified Child Life Specialists and
Dorian’s handlers
“The Benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy on Mental Health”

   1. What is Animal-Assisted Therapy (ATT)?
        o A goal-directed intervention in which an animal that meets specific criteria is an
             integral part of the treatment process
        o Work alongside a professional and is recognized as a therapeutic form of
             treatment

   2. What is a facility dog or hospital-based community service dog?
        o A trained dog that works with a handler (hospital employee) in the hospital daily
             and is utilized in a clinician role for goal-orientated AAT intervention
                 ▪ Dorian is a full-time hospital employee of the child life team
                 ▪ Dorian participates in clinical interventions and therapeutic interaction
                      on a full-time schedule
                 ▪ Dorian had 12-24 months of training at service dog organization; his
                      handlers then attend “camp” for 1-2 weeks to train with Dorian
                 ▪ Dorian is a worker first, pet second
        o These dogs in other facilities have also been used out in the community
             following disasters such as hurricanes, tornados, and to provide support to
             communities following mass shootings
        o We also have an incredible pet therapy program at Golisano Children’s Hospital
             in which volunteers bring their certified dogs to visit the patients and families

   3. Who is Dorian?
        o 2.5-year-old goldendoodle (golden retriever and poodle)
        o Joined the Child Life team at Golisano in November 2019
        o Dorian came from Canine Assistance, which is in Milton, Georgia, and trains dogs
             for individuals as well as hospitals

▪ At 10 months of age, Dorian went to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta to
            begin hospital training and get desensitized to the sounds and experiences of
            hospitals
         ▪ His training is a bond-based approach which uses social connection to
            influence and educate dogs to voluntarily cooperate instead of following
            commands
       o Dorian is paired with two members of the child life team, Erika and Anna
       o Dunkin’ Donuts Joy in Childhood Foundation
            ▪ Grant funded for the first three years of service
            ▪ Dogs For Joy Program, which provides in-residence service dogs to
                children’s hospitals across the country
            ▪ Provided funding for about 11 dogs nationwide in 9 hospitals including
                Cleveland Clinic and Texas Children’s Hospital

4. What Are the Benefits of a Facility Dog?
     o Research has shown that animals have been proven to help pediatric patients
         and staff at children’s hospitals, we’ve seen that here
     o Provides comfort for patients and families with family and sibling support during
         bereavements
     o Trained in variety of tasks including teaching patients how to take oral meds,
         providing support during medical procedures, and providing motivation for
         children that need to ambulate during their hospital stay. We have them help
         walk or throw the ball with Dorian.
     o Provides opportunity for medical play to familiarize patient with equipment. He
         is very patient.
     o Available for staff support after difficult cases. First Friday of the month, we
         bring doughnuts and Dorian to spend time with the staff
     o By being full time, he provides consistency, especially for long term patients and
         chronic patients with frequent visits
     o Helps to decrease isolation, helps build gaps in communication with patients
         who are withdrawn.
     o Provides opportunity to co-treat with other disciplines (physical therapy, nursing,
         psychology, etc.)

5. Biological Impact of Interactions with Dogs (AAT), shown in research
       o Reduced epinephrine and norepinephrine (the hormones that that are released
          in the body’s fight or flight response to stress)
       o Increased endorphins

o Increased oxytocin
           o Reduced blood pressure. Dorian can elicit relaxation for patients and family
           o Reduced cortisol, which persists after the dog has left

   6. Impacts on Physical Health from Interactions with Dogs (AAT)
         o Act of petting produces an automatic relaxation response
         o Stabilizes blood pressure
         o Reduces the risk of disease, heart attacks, and stroke
         o Improves cardiovascular health
         o Breathing slows in those who are anxious
         o Diminishes overall physical pain

   7. Impacts on Mental Health from Interactions with Dogs (AAT)
         o Decreases isolation and depression
         o Promotes sense of calm
         o Bridges communication gaps
         o Provides comfort
         o Reduces boredom, giving patients something to look forward to
         o Lowers anxiety and decreases agitation
         o Creates motivation for the client to recover faster
         o Reduces loneliness
         o Diminishes emotional pain

Questions from viewers:

Q: How do you get Dorian’s services at Golisano Children’s Hospital?
A: Erika: Contact a Child Specialist on the floor and they will connect you.

Q: Does Dorian ever have a bad day at work?
A: Erika: I don’t think he’s ever had a bad day. There are some days where he is kind of tired. He
works 8 hours a day, so it’s important to make sure he gets different breaks and rest times. We
do use him for emotional and high stress situations, which can take a toll on dogs. We’ve built
into our day times for play, like fetch in the hallway or letting him chase lizards in the garden.
We also give him time for rest. He’s often more tired by the end of the week. It depends on the
patient load. He’s always pretty happy, and we can see that he loves what he does. While he
was on vacation, he was not as happy as when he came back to work.

About Kids’ Minds Matter

The goal of Kids’ Minds Matter is to raise awareness about the need for pediatric mental and behavioral
health care services and to raise the funds required to make these services available in the region
through Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida and Lee Health. An estimated 46,000
Southwest Florida children are impacted by mental and behavioral health disorders like anxiety,
depression, eating disorders, psychosis, substance abuse, autism, and attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder. As part of the region’s strategic solution to the children’s mental and behavioral health
epidemic in Southwest Florida, Kids’ Minds Matter is dedicated to fostering partnerships that support
existing services, identifying and filling gaps in the continuum of care, and innovating new treatments.

Philanthropic support for Kids’ Minds Matter has allowed Lee Health and Golisano Children’s Hospital of
Southwest Florida to: implement a tiered model of care that clinically aligns community, inpatient and
outpatient care; hire additional psychiatrists, child advocates and other mental health professionals;
offer Mental Health First Aid training to local pediatricians, emergency service providers and others who
work directly with children; renovate an outpatient center in Fort Myers where a child’s needs can be
addressed in a therapeutic setting; and launch a first-of-its-kind Pediatric Digital Cognitive Behavioral
Health diagnostic and treatment protocols interlaced with Tele-Psychology support to treat anxiety,
depression and trauma. Most recently, Kids’ Minds Matter introduced mental health care navigators
into Lee and Collier County schools who will help families find resources and care to address their child’s
mental healthcare needs.

The “Mental Health Mondays” segments are a public forum, designed for open discussions that benefit
a large audience, and to provide real-time resources and advice from pediatric mental health
professionals and advocates. The information shared on this platform is intended for general public
consumption and not intended for individual treatment. The views, advice, and resources shared by
each guest speaker are solely their own and are not endorsed by Lee Health, Golisano Children’s
Hospital of Southwest Florida and Kids’ Minds Matter. Kids’ Minds Matter is dedicated to raising
awareness and essential funding to enhance pediatric mental & behavioral health programs, services
and access to care in Southwest Florida. To learn more about Kids' Minds Matter, visit
KidsMindsMatter.com.