A Dog Is Sometimes A Patient’s Best Friend

UPMC Washington is celebrating the official launch of its therapy dog program with a birthday party for its newest employee, Savior, the golden retriever therapy dog. This program was supported through local donors and is designed to promote a supportive care environment for workers and patients at the hospital. Studies have shown that therapy dogs visiting hospitals have been shown to reduce patient anxiety by an average of 34%.During the celebration, it was announced the the hospital system foundation was being renamed as the Washington Greene Health Foundation. Natalie Chaido, development manager, said that the foundation looks to impact the community by funding different programs with a health and wellness mission that will complement services that the hospital offers in Washington. The foundation is looking into the possibility of expanding the therapy dog program at the Greene County Hospital location.