FW: ICUConnect : Unit contribution : Animal Therapy in Hospital

[Glenys Harrington]

Dear ACIPC Members,

I have spoken to Kaye Rolls, Clinical Project Officer, Intensive Care
Coordination and Monitoring Unit | Agency for Clinical Innovation.

Kay has agreed that the attached policy and her posting below (along with my
own posting to the authors) can be forwarded the ACIPC members.

See attached and below.

Regards

Glenys

Glenys Harrington

Consultant

Infection Control Consultancy (ICC)

PO Box 5202

Middle Park

Victoria, 3206

Australia

M: +61 404 816 434

infexion@ozemail.com.au

ABN 47533508426

[mailto:owner-icuconnect@lists.health.nsw.gov.au] On Behalf Of Glenys
Harrington

Hi Kaye,

Many thanks for sharing this procedure. Excellent work.

I have a couple of questions:

1. The procedures states; “Animals are swabbed every three months for
salmonella and campylobacter which are the most common variants they carry.
If swabs are positive the animal must have 2 negative swabs prior to return
to visitation which results in 6 months away from the facility”. Where or
what sites on the animals are swabbed?

2. Are there any particular types of animals that are excluded from the
program?

I have also attached a recent publication that has come out subsequent to
your post below that may be of interest/use:

*Rekha Murthy et al. “Animals in Healthcare Facilities:
Recommendations to Minimize Potential Risks”. Infection Control & Hospital
Epidemiology, March 2015, pp 1 – 22

Regards

Glenys

Glenys Harrington

Consultant

Infection Control Consultancy (ICC)

PO Box 5202

Middle Park

Victoria, 3206

Australia

M: +61 404 816 434

infexion@ozemail.com.au

ABN 47533508426

[mailto:owner-icuconnect@lists.health.nsw.gov.au] On Behalf Of Kaye Rolls

We all have patients we remember, this patient stood out for a number of
reasons, one of which is related to our Unit contribution for this week.

Quite a few years ago now the Unit where I was working experienced a large
number of meningococcal admissions. One of these was a teenager who
unfortunately experienced many of the complications associated with
meningococcal sepsis. As the patient slowly recovered they began to ask
about their horse. One of the standouts for the patient and staff was the
patient was taken outside to see their horse. The smiles were worth any
amount of effort.

Animals/pets visiting patients has become a welcome part of the landscape in
hospitals these days so ICCMU is pleased to present the first Unit
contribution for 2015:

This PD covers Animal Assisted Activity at CC-LHD however was written by the
ICU team of Nicole Bowden & Sue Lamb

Some of the benefits of these visits can include

. Reduced loneliness and social withdrawal among older people and
people experiencing mental distress.

. Enhancing emotional wellbeing.

. Improving mood and motivation in attending therapy sessions.

. Increasing responsiveness among patients with acquired brain
injury.

. improving staff moral

Many thanks to the Gosford team

It would be great to hear from other places who have been able to facilitate
animals and pets in ICU

K

Kaye Rolls

Clinical Project Officer, Intensive Care Coordination and Monitoring Unit |
Agency for Clinical Innovation
Level 4, Sage Building, 67 Albert Avenue, Chatswood NSW 2067

Postal Address: PO Box 699 Chatswood NSW 2057
Mobile 0423 607 735 | Tel. +61 2 9464 4692 | Fax. +61 2 9464 4728 |
Kaye.Rolls@health.nsw.gov.au

http://www.aci.health.nsw.gov.au |
http://www.aci.health.nsw.gov.au/networks/intensive-care

For ICUConnect – ACI-ICU.Connect@health.nsw.gov.au

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