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PRESCRIPTION PAWS
Therapy dogs bring joy to patients and help aid recovery
SOMETIMES THE BEST MEDICINE
can
be a furry-tailed dose of goodness that can
make a patient feel better. Doctors have
known about the value of therapy pets in hos-
pitals for many years, and patients and family
members are a testament to their influence.
Glendale Adventist Medical Center’s
(GAMC’s) popular pet therapy program offers
patients the ability to interact with certified
and trained therapy dogs. “Our pet therapy
program is really an example of what good
can come to our patients when departments
collaborate with one another,” explains Jan
Adduci, pet therapy coordinator.
“Pet therapy has been a great addition to
our rehabilitation program,” Adduci says.
“These amazing dogs provide something very
special to enhance the health and well-being
of our patients. When the dogs enter the
facility, patients’ faces light up. The patients
benefit greatly from the unconditional love
and acceptance provided by the dogs.”
GAMC has partnered with Therapy Dogs
International to bring the program to patients.
Therapy dogs must have a stable temperament
and loving nature. They complete basic obe-
dience training to ensure that they will react
appropriately in a hospital environment. The
dogs are examined to meet health criteria and
are kept well-groomed and clean.
Pet therapy is a goal-directed intervention
in which an animal meeting specific criteria
is an integral part of the treatment process.
The therapy is designed to promote improve-
ment in human physical, social, emotional or
cognitive function. Pet therapy is provided in
a variety of settings, and may be group or in-
dividual in nature. The process is documented
and evaluated.
To learn more about the pet
therapy program at GAMC, call
(818) 409-8071
.
Sources: International Association of Human Animal Interaction
Organizations.
The IAHAIO Prague guidelines on animal assisted activities
and animal assisted therapy
. Renton, WA: Delta Society; 1998. American
Veterinary Medical Association.
Wellness guidelines for animals used
in animal-assisted activity, animal-assisted therapy, and resident animal
programs
.
IN RECOGNITION
of breast cancer awareness month
in October, Glendale Adventist Medical Center gathered
an army of candidates to spread the message on breast
cancer. Six notable men from the community were se-
lected as brave soldiers for this biannual campaign to
do the following: educate on breast cancer facts, discuss
the importance of early screenings and speaking to a
physician, and educate on the resources available at the
award-winning GAMC Cancer Center.
The Army of Pink soldiers for 2014 were Medical
Director Harlan Gibbs, MD, GAMC Emergency De-
partment; Lt. Tim Feeley, Glendale Police Department;
Deputy Fire Chief Greg Fish, Glendale Fire Department;
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Western Diocese Arme-
nian Church; Greg Krikorian, president of the Glendale
Unified School Board; and Glendale City Manager Scott
Ochoa—led by honorary captain Elissa Glickman, CEO
of Glendale Arts. Everyone worked effortlessly with our
captain and their respective campaign managers to ac-
complish the overall campaign mission. Over 97,000
community members voted online during the month
of October, and Lt. Feeley, along with his K-9 Yudy, was
declared the 2014 Army of Pink winner! He earned the
most votes through his very active campaigning skills
and mission to “Detect and Protect,” which was his slo-
gan for the campaign. Lt. Feeley and the entire police
department sold special pins and t-shirts to raise money
to benefit the GAMC Cancer Center.
The funds raised will help provide resources for the
support groups available to cancer patients. In addition,
100 low-cost mammograms were provided by GAMC as a
way to encourage the importance of screenings to detect
cancer. Congratulations, Lt. Feeley for all your
efforts in the fight against cancer!
For more information on the Army of Pink,
visit
GlendaleAdventist.com/ArmyOfPink
.
No-cost cancer support
services, close to home
Cancer services promotes the mission at GAMC, “To
share God’s love with our community by promoting healing
and wellness for the whole person,” by providing no-cost
support services. With a staff that strives for excellence
in patient care, we offer services for comprehensive care
close to home.
Services include (at no cost):
■
■
Oncology nurse navigator: Sharon Feinberg, RN, BSN,
OCN, who assists in identifying your needs and enlisting
resources from diagnosis through survivorship.
■
■
Positive image coordinator: Tracey Sanders, assisted by
Anita McCain, who offers assistance with wigs, hairstyling,
make-up and skin care, and coordinates the Look Good…
Feel Better program, creative writing and knitting classes.
■
■
Focus on Healing coordinator: Cynthia Klinger, MFT,
who conducts brain tumor support groups; cancer support
groups; grief and loss support groups; and short-term coun-
seling sessions for individuals, couples and families.
■
■
Office of Integrated Research, which provides access to
clinical trials for various indications.
■
■
Yoga and fitness classes for physical activity.
■
■
Ingeborg’s Place Apart, a refuge within the center that
provides wigs and scarves and a quiet environment for
patients to heal.
The Cancer Center is committed to providing qual-
ity care through the compassion and dedication of our
board-certified surgeons, nurses, nurse navigators and
therapists. As an accredited Comprehensive Community
Cancer Program, GAMC is a proud recipient of the Out-
standing Achievement Award from the American College of
Surgeons.
For more information about GAMC’s cancer services,
please call
(818) 409-8218
.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE
2014
ARMY OF PINK
WINNER!
CANINE COMFORT: Karen Sanders and her dog, Quatsch, visit patient Randall
Franklin at GAMC.
2014 Army of Pink Winner, Lt. Tim Feeley and his
K-9, Yudy.
We l l n e s s
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