During the pandemic, therapeutic animal visits stopped at the St. Joseph’s Healthcare West 5th campus. St. Joe’s saw a need to reintroduce this type of care. They have hired Scout, a 20-month-old Leonberger dog as the newest member of the St. Joe’s forensic mental health team at the West 5th campus on the Hamilton mountain.
Head of St. Joseph’s forensic psychiatry program, Dr. Gary Chaimowitz says that Scout “…we do know that interactions with animals produce a degree of warmth and positive feelings that you probably can’t get from some of the other things that we do.”
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120 patients live full-time at St. Joe’s. Scout is at the hospital 5 days a week between 9 and 4 p.m. He doesn’t just interact with patients, but staff as well. Dr. Chaimowitz says, “Our staff are working incredibly hard, burnout is really high… This is the sort of thing that really adds to the quality of their lives and brings a smile to everybody’s face.”
Scout is owned by the hospital but his handler, Ashley Palmer, is also his foster mom after work. “It’s the best job, this is definitely the best job. He has so much appreciation, people love being around him. He brings a calm to the environment, especially in areas if it’s a high-stress day that he can offer some help and support.”
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The hospital is monitoring Scout’s work and interactions. They’re asking both patients and staff to answer weekly surveys about how they’re feeling. So far the pilot program is a success. Dr. Chaimowitz says it’s all part of making the hospital feel a bit more like home for some.
Scout was donated by a breeder and he’s funded by St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation.
