Patients in an academic medical center such as UAB see a stream of doctors, residents, medical students and nurses walk through their door. They might also see a dog. UAB's Canine Ambassador program brings specially trained dogs to visit with patients in their hospital room.
"With just a five-minute visit, patients report overwhelmingly high satisfaction from the interaction with a friendly dog," says UAB psychologist Josh Klapow, Ph.D., one of the program organizers. "The visit improves their mood and is helpful in their recovery process."
The Canine Ambassador program has 17 dog/handler teams, including Boru, Klapow's 200 pound English mastiff.
Contact Bob Shepard, Media Relations, 205-934-8934 or [email protected].
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