• Main Menu
• Issues
• Regulatory

October 1, 2008

New Rules on Pet Therapy

In recognition of the beneficial effects of pet therapy, the Department of Public Health has revised the rules governing animals in the hospital.  Effective August 12, 2008, a hospital may establish animal-assisted therapy programs, where certain conditions are met. This memo explains those conditions.  The newly adopted rule can be accessed by clicking here.

1. Hospitals wishing to establish an animal-assisted therapy program must include written policies and procedures developed by the hospital’s Infection Control Committee and Medical Staff that address the operation of the program. Such policies must be developed in accordance with the Guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention entitled, "Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities: Recommendations – Animals in Health Care Facilities." This document may be accessed by clicking here.

The section on animals is located about halfway through the document.

2. In addition to the CDC guidelines (see above), hospital policies must include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Designation of hospital department responsible for operation of program (e.g., Volunteer Services)
2. Written goals and objectives for the program
3. Sanitation, infection control and care and grooming, including veterinary care
4. Certification and training requirements for animals, handlers and hospital staff
5. Patient screening and assessment for participation in animal-assisted therapy
6. Areas in the hospital where animals are permitted and prohibited; where therapy will be held (public area or patient rooms)
7. Length of therapy sessions
8. Types of animals permitted to participate in program
9. Patient safety, including incidents of biting, etc., as well as reporting requirements and patient care
10. Patient (both adult and children) consent requirements for participation in program.

1. Records shall be kept for each patient who participates in the program and shall be available for review by the Department.
2. All animal-assisted therapy sessions shall be prescheduled and approved in advance by the patient’s physician and hospital staff who are responsible for the program.
3. If a therapy animal is to be boarded overnight in the hospital shall establish policies governing the location in the hospital where the animal will board. A hospital staff member who has had training for this responsibility shall be responsible for the care and management of the animal during the time that the animal is boarding.
4. Therapy animals shall be accompanied at all times that the animal is in the hospital by a volunteer or staff member who is familiar with and capable of controlling the animal’s behavior.
5. The animal assisted therapy program shall be evaluated annually in a written report to the Infection Control Committee.

We hope this information is helpful. If you have questions, please contact Barb Haller at bhaller@ihastaff.org or 630.276.5474.