Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Crown Point: Pets Brings Therapy to Hospital Patients

Franciscan-St-Anthony-Health-Crown-Point-Pets-brings-therapy-to-hospital-patientsWith a philosophy of “man’s best friend also can be a healer,” Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Crown Point launched a pet therapy program on Dec. 16, aimed at making patients’ stays more comfortable, with a dose of fun.

The initiative kicked off in the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago location at the hospital and immediately brought smiles to the faces of such patients as Kevin Mellon, of Hebron, who is shown petting Zena; as Alicia Guex, clinical manager of inpatient therapy, looks on. Studies have shown a decrease in stress levels and in blood pressure for people visited by such dogs. For more information, call Julie Canady, program coordinator, at (219) 613-6640.