|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Click here to see a listing of the facilities KPETS currently visits
Click here to view Harold Paz, M.D., Chief CEO, Senior Vice President for Health Affairs and Dean at Hershey Medical Center has to say about the therapy dog program featuring KPETS therapy dogs at Hershey Medical Center!
Click here for Additional Testimonials
|
Being employed at Hershey Medical Center along with doing weekly therapy visits with my dog Reni gives me the unique opportunity to establish relationships with some of the long term patients, i.e. patients that are on transplant waiting lists.
I got to know one gentleman waiting for a heart. In all the months that I visited, I never met his wife due to the fact that my visits were on Tuesday nights and she lived about two hrs away. No matter how bad a day he was having, he always made sure that he was sitting up in bed ready to greet us.
On this particular Tuesday as I approached his room I noticed that the curtain was pulled. A woman appeared from behind the curtain and introduced herself - his wife. She explained that her husband was not doing well. He had called her earlier in the day to come to the hospital. BUT he wanted to make sure she remembered to bring dog treats along because this was "dog night". Even though Reni and I could not enter the room, she presented me with a baggie full of treats. I spoke a few words and thanked her. The next morning when I went in for work, I found out he had passed away. It gives me pause to wonder, when he knew he would not be in this world much longer was visiting with Reni one of the last things on his mind?
-Laura W
|
"KPETS involvement with the Schreiber Pediatric Rehab Center has been a tremendously positive experience. We look forward to expanding their involvement with our facility as we continue to service the needs of the children in our community."
Nancy Herrman, PT, PCS, Physical Therapist, Certified Pediatric Clinical Specialist |
"They come pouring out of the kitchen and offices to share a few moments with the special dogs. It gives the staff and residents a mutual interest which they can share and talk about days after a visit."
Linda Johnson, Country Meadows |
"We’ve also had great comments from other facilities you’ve visited...The combination of your volunteers and the dogs are magic. Everywhere you go the clients or residents benefit greatly from the healing effects of the bond between human and animal."
Kate Quinn, Director, Volunteer Center, United Way of Lancaster County |
"When Maggie and Carol are with us, the group feels more cohesive. The clients are willing to work together and if feels more like a family environment. Since these clients live in our residential program, not with their families, this doesn’t always happen easily...Maggie and Carol provide a wonderful and therapeutic gift every week!"
Maggie Hackman, MS, CPRP, Cognitive Therapist, Acadia |
"The pet therapy service you provide is greatly appreciated by our rehab staff, patients, and their families...We have seen a number of positive benefits the therapy services provide...increase patient mobility, function and endurance...increases patient’s self-esteem….increase patient socialization and provide a diversion which prevents loneliness…"
Pam Showers, CTRS, Recreational Therapist,
LRMC |
"We were all delighted that so many of your group were so willing to entertain us and then stay for a while. Your demonstrations and musical rug game were a lot of fun"
Sharon & Ray Meyers,
Family Coordinators, Lancaster County Special Olympics |
"The dogs are always so well behaved and groomed. Resident faces relax and light up...Your willingness to check off who you have visited and leave the information to be documented the next day by our staff makes us all feel better about the job we do and care so much about."
Beverly Petersen, TR Volunteer Directory of Moravian Manor |
"We are very fortunate to have KPETS providing pet therapy to our patients, family members and staff in our MICU/MIMCU units at the Hershey Medical Center...For those patients who are in the unit for quite a while, these weekly pet visits are so important to their well being.
It is the hope that as the medical community becomes more aware of the benefits that patients and staff derive from pet visits, that more areas of the hospital will begin to utilize this service and that more patients will be able to experience and benefit from these visits."
Three MD’s and three staff at Hershey Medical Center |
"You can't describe the feeling that you can get when you sense that the patient is getting so much enjoyment from the pet."
Jeanne Beckley, from interview on ABC27 "The Healing Power of Pets" /
Interview with Valerie Pritchett at Hershey Medical Center |
| more . . . |
