News Gifu hospitals permit inpatients to recover alongside their dogs

[thomas]

As a dog owner, I hope hospitals in our prefecture will also introduce this policy.


Two hospitals in Gifu Prefecture have introduced a new approach to inpatient care based on the belief that being close to a beloved pet can help stabilise both the physical and emotional well-being of patients, potentially speeding up their recovery.

Photo credit: Matsunaga Yoshinobu via Asahi

Since April, Matsunami General Hospital in Kasamatsu and the Kaizu Medical Association Hospital in Kaizu have begun implementing this idea. At Matsunami Hospital, the ground floor of a separate building on the premises, which was initially used as accommodation for patients' families, has been renovated into a "Your Pet in Hospital" facility designed to care for patients' dogs. Hospitalised patients who entrust their pets to the facility are free to visit their dogs as often as they wish during their stay. The facility is equipped with five cages and can accommodate either five large dogs or up to ten smaller ones.

The centre is permanently staffed with a certified veterinary nurse for companion animals, who is tasked with feeding the pets and cleaning up their faeces. There is also a 20-square-meter playground inside the centre. Only dogs are currently allowed. The rate varies, depending on the animal's size, between 3,500 yen and 5,300 yen ($24-$37), excluding tax, for an overnight stay. Eligible for the services are those who have no means for having their pets looked after while they are in the hospital. That description envisages patients in the acute stage of stomach cancer or other diseases and patients undergoing planned medical treatment, including for diabetes. Once the acute care or other treatment is concluded and the condition has stabilised, the patients are subsequently transferred to a new "With Pet Ward," which has been set up at the Kaizu Medical Association Hospital. Sickrooms for patients with pets have been set up on the third floor. Each sickroom has a bed and a cage, allowing patients to continue caring for their pets while undergoing treatment.

Gifu hospitals allow inpatients to stay with their dogs for healing | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

 

[Ukigumo]

I think this is a great idea. I used to occasionally look after patients who were in hospital for months and became very distressed/stressed about not being able to see and stroke their furry family members! The reasonable objection from the hospital infection control was one of hygiene; bringing dogs/horses/walruses into clinical areas where people may be immunosuppressed or have open wounds. A designated pet-receiving area in the hospital which could be easily sterilised (like operating theatres) was my idea, and double wound dressings on the patients, aprons, gowns, strict handwashing etc for the receiver.

I would've gone mad if I couldn't see my cat, Mylo (RIP) for even a day!

 

[johnnyG]

When I was in hospital for a bike crash, after a while (a month or more?), when I could at least get out into the parking lot in a wheelchair, my wife brought our dog to see me. She (the dog) and I were both ecstatic to see each other.

 

[dracuella]

When I was in hospital for a bike crash, after a while (a month or more?), when I could at least get out into the parking lot in a wheelchair, my wife brought our dog to see me. She (the dog) and I were both ecstatic to see each other.

That's a really long time in hospital - bicycle or motorbike?
I got run down on my bicycle once, took a broadside from a car, but didn't suffer much except a severe concussion and a sprained wrist and ankle (oh and migraines for about 20 years but thankfully they've all but disappeared. I did watch myself floating through the air as it happened so I guess I banged my head pretty badly

 

[johnnyG]

bicycle or motorbike?

Bicycle, 9 yrs ago (broken pelvis). That stay was for ~10 weeks (following year +5 weeks for an artificial hip)

(edit: that stay was for 8 weeks based on the thread below)

 

[thomas]

Bicycle, 9 yrs ago (broken pelvis). That stay was for ~10 weeks (following year +5 weeks for an artificial hip)

@johnnyG, I hope you don't mind if I link the original thread:

Another man gone down. (crash report)

Last Wednesday, 24th, was heading out for an early ride. Known course, but on a section I had not ridden recently. Inadvertently hit a deep groove, and went down to the right, about 5:50 a.m., maybe 25kmh. Memories: --looking down and seeing my front tire in this groove. --hearing the weird...

tokyocycle.com

 

[mdchachi]

I hope you don't mind if I link the original thread:

Good idea. I was just about to ask for more details. The only thing that would have made this story better (more topical) was if he had said he was carrying an umbrella.