Pet Visitation
At St.Joseph Hospital, we know how important pets are to our patients. A visit from your pet may relieve anxiety about your pet's welfare while you’re in the hospital, plus physical contact with pets has been shown to lower blood pressure. That’s why we developed a unique pet visitation program that allows patients to see their pet during their stay at the hospital.
How to Obtain Pet Approval
Contact your nurse for pet visitation information, and then complete the Pet Health Screening Form and submit it to the patient care staff. The form ensures your pet is reliably housebroken and healthy and has up-to-date immunizations.
Pets Approved for Visits
Dogs and cats.
Limitations on Pet Approval
A specific illness or condition may complicate our ability to accommodate your request for a pet visit. We hope you understand that our first job is to take care of you and help you to get well.
We ask you to consider your pet's well-being when considering a visit. If your cat or dog is extremely sensitive to strange noises and smells or is fearful of new things, you may wish to protect them by not asking for a visit. Females that are in season (estrus) and animals that are difficult to control may not visit.
Once the Pet Visit Has Been Approved
Before your pet visits St.Joseph Hospital the nursing staff will talk to your roommate (if you have one) to make sure he or she does not have any allergies or objections. If your roommate does have allergies or has an objection, we will arrange for a visit in a different location on the nursing unit.
Day of Visit
Pets should be on a leash and properly groomed and bathed. Choose a handler that knows your pet and is able to control it.
When your pet arrives at the hospital it should be given the opportunity to relieve itself in the designated area just east of the Main Entrance. Follow the signs along the walk, just past the Prayer Garden. Pick-up equipment and a trash receptacle are also located there.
Your pet's handler must stay with you and your pet at all times during the visit. If at any time your pet becomes uncontrollable or ill, or if the department manager feels the visit is not in your best interest at that time, the visit may be shortened or rescheduled for a later time.
If your pet accidentally soils the visitation area, please ask for help. We will give you or your handler materials to clean up after your pet and then we will arrange for the area to be thoroughly disinfected.
Disclaimer
Pet owners are liable for all actions of their pets while on hospital grounds. St.Joseph Hospital is not responsible for injuries to pets or illnesses contracted by pets from the hospital environment.