We have a new team member at Magee – a furry one. We would like to introduce Joey, our newest facility dog. Joey, short for Jovana, is a two year old black lab and Golden Retriever mix and is working with patients at the Riverfront Outpatient Center.
Facility dogs work side by side with health and human service professionals to engage patients in sessions designed to improve functional outcomes, stimulate healing and recovery, and provide comfort and unconditional love. While many health care facilities may have animals visit with patients, these animals are generally handled by volunteers and are not used to help patients meet specific, planned treatment goals. Through Magee’s Facility Dog program, the treatment providers are health and human service professionals, not volunteers. Patients’ sessions with Joey, who is highly trained and educated, are goal-directed, and functional outcomes are measured, recorded and documented. The average Facility Dog knows around 40 commands, all of which can be utilized during therapy.
Joey joins Magee’s first facility dog Ford, an 8-year-old Golden Retriever who is loved throughout the hospital. He is excited to have Joey on the team!
To learn more about how you can work with Joey, please call the Riverfront Outpatient Center at (215) 218-3900.
