French Hospital Medical Center Foundation Receives Grant from Harold J. Miossi Charitable Trust to Support Pet Therapy Program

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA – January 16, 2018 – The French Hospital Medical Center (FHMC) Foundation is pleased to announce that they have received a three-year grant from the Harold J. Miossi Charitable Trust to further organize and expand the hospital’s Pet Therapy Program.

Animal assisted therapy is a type of therapy that involves animals in the healing process. Studies show that the presence of animals has a positive effect on human physiology and reduces feelings of stress and anxiety. The non-stressful interaction with the pets also improves patients’ interactions with family and staff.  Currently, only dogs are included in the program.

Support from the Miossi Charitable Trust will enable FHMC to increase the number of patients who benefit from a therapy animal visit by 10% each year of the grant’s three year funding period. A more structured program would bring together pet therapy volunteers in order to: 1) share best practices, 2) improve training for therapy animals, 3) share experiences with different medical situations, and 4) identify opportunities to expand the program.

“French Hospital is grateful to be the recipient of this generous grant from the Harold J. Miossi Charitable Trust in order to further develop our rewarding Pet Therapy Program,” says Alan Iftiniuk, President & CEO, French Hospital Medical Center. We are continually incorporating therapeutic methods to serve our patients and foster an environment of healing, and this generous funding will assist in that advancement.”

The program began in May 2013 and was designed to make a patient’s hospital stay more comfortable and to lessen patient anxiety. There are currently fifteen pet therapy volunteers and their animals.  Volunteers and their therapy animals visit the hospital most days. Dogs are certified through one of the approved pet therapy agencies and show proof of their vaccinations and training.

Individual bedside visits can be requested by the patient, the patient's doctor, nurse, therapist or a family member. Visits can occur at various times during the weekday, evening, and weekend.  Pet therapy volunteers encourage affection with the dogs, as they are for “hugging and petting” and are not considered service dogs. 

With the grant, the expansion of the Pet Therapy Program will extend to the FHMC’s Hearst Cancer Resource Center. The animals will provide comfort to families facing cancer, as special support is often needed to handle the stress of a cancer diagnosis and treatment. Expansion will consist of the development of a pet therapy support group for families to bring much needed comfort during their cancer journey.

Visits from therapy canines have been well received by patients, family members and visitors, as well as staff.  Not only are patients visited in their rooms, but therapy dogs are also in the Main Lobby Waiting area of the hospital, giving support and comfort to French Hospital visitors.

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About French Hospital Medical Center
French Hospital Medical Center, located in San Luis Obispo, California, is rated one of the Top 100 Hospitals in the nation and one of the Top 50 Cardiac Hospitals in the nation by Thomson Reuters.  The Copeland, Forbes, and Rossi Cardiac Care Center provides the latest innovative cardiac and imaging technology on the Central Coast. The hospital’s current modernization and redesign project is an example of the commitment to meet the growing needs of the community with lifesaving advancements in medicine coupled with excellent, compassionate care. The hospital is home to the unique Hearst Cancer Resource Center offering free education, resources and support to cancer patients and their families.  French is a Dignity Health member of the Central Coast which also includes Arroyo Grande Community Hospital in Arroyo Grande, CA and Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria, CA. Dignity Health of the Central Coast is an integrated network of top quality hospitals, physicians from the most prestigious medical schools, and comprehensive outpatient services including primary care offices, premier ambulatory surgery centers, technologically-advanced laboratories and imaging centers and a full service home health agency; all recognized for quality, safety and service.  Each hospital is supported by an active philanthropic Foundation to help meet the growing health care needs of our communities.