Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center gained a new dog employee as part of the facility dog program.On March 11, Baron became one of the full-time furry employees at the medical center, providing support to inpatients in the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology unit at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital. Davon Gulick is Baron’s primary handler as Gulick is a certified child life specialist. Alexis Steefel is the secondary handler who is an art therapy supervisor and a registered and board-certified art therapist. Baron’s task will be to ensure patients that their stress is low and distract them during procedures and tests so that they can have comfort while their medical work is getting done.“Every day, we see the positive, uplifting effect our facility dogs have on patients at the Children’s Hospital,” Gulick said. “We are so excited to work with Baron to bring even more of that joy to our patients.”Canine Assistants raised Baron in Georgia, where they were able to learn skills that can be transferred to helping young patients, such as how to work with IV poles and wheelchairs alongside how to rest gently near or with the child. The medical center became the first hospital in Pennsylvania to have a dog program in 2016 when their first furry employee named Kaia started. Since the start, Pilot, litter mates, and brothers Captain, Thor, and Skye have also joined the team as full-time doggie employees and specialize in different areas to make sure that patient care is more enhanced. To stay connected with them, you can check out their Instagram channel here. According to the news release sent, the pet therapy program is different from this program due to its training and the support that they provide for all patients but both continue to support the children’s and adult hospitals. The funding for the facility dog program comes from the ongoing funds from many donors, including the inaugural anonymous benefactor. The Kelso Facility Dog Endowment supports this program in honor of their dog which includes the cost of the dogs and their retirement. If you want to learn more about these programs and the research, outreach, and economic development, click here.
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center gained a new dog employee as part of the facility dog program.
On March 11, Baron became one of the full-time furry employees at the medical center, providing support to inpatients in the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology unit at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital.
Davon Gulick is Baron’s primary handler as Gulick is a certified child life specialist.
Alexis Steefel is the secondary handler who is an art therapy supervisor and a registered and board-certified art therapist.
Baron’s task will be to ensure patients that their stress is low and distract them during procedures and tests so that they can have comfort while their medical work is getting done.
“Every day, we see the positive, uplifting effect our facility dogs have on patients at the Children’s Hospital,” Gulick said. “We are so excited to work with Baron to bring even more of that joy to our patients.”
Canine Assistants raised Baron in Georgia, where they were able to learn skills that can be transferred to helping young patients, such as how to work with IV poles and wheelchairs alongside how to rest gently near or with the child.
The medical center became the first hospital in Pennsylvania to have a dog program in 2016 when their first furry employee named Kaia started.
Since the start, Pilot, litter mates, and brothers Captain, Thor, and Skye have also joined the team as full-time doggie employees and specialize in different areas to make sure that patient care is more enhanced.
To stay connected with them, you can check out their Instagram channel here.
According to the news release sent, the pet therapy program is different from this program due to its training and the support that they provide for all patients but both continue to support the children’s and adult hospitals.
The funding for the facility dog program comes from the ongoing funds from many donors, including the inaugural anonymous benefactor.
The Kelso Facility Dog Endowment supports this program in honor of their dog which includes the cost of the dogs and their retirement.
If you want to learn more about these programs and the research, outreach, and economic development, click here.
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