Good Dog Nation - Introduction

Dr. Susan Smyth, Director of the Gill Heart & Vascular Institute joins Kim and Michelle to discuss the therapy dog program being used to rehabilitate heart and stroke patients. Michelle trained both of Susan's dogs, Carmine and Saleh, that work at the hospital three days a week. Carmine is one of a select few therapy dogs, (if not the only one) that is trained to walk with heart patients on EKMO. Listen to discussion on how this program was created, implemented and managed. Gives detailed information on the training involved for not only the dogs, but the human owners and handlers. Discusses the policies and procedures developed for the Gill Heart Institute to allow therapy dogs in the hospital, including the legal and insurance side of the process. Fantastic and fascinating insight into a therapy dog program done right.

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