Daily Update: Canine Therapist Chima Commences Work at Osnabrück Clinic
A two-year-old Labrador named Chima has started working as a therapy dog at Klinikum Osnabrück, bringing a calming presence and a host of benefits to both patients and hospital staff.
Chima, with her shiny, light beige fur, brown eyes, and training as a therapy dog, was initially taken to the Neurological Early Rehabilitation ward. She was trained to behave passively, allowing visitors to initiate contact.
A 73-year-old patient at the hospital, who has a history of owning a dog, showed interest in Chima. The patient spent 15 minutes with Chima on the rooftop terrace, petting and interacting with the therapy dog. Good humor spread, and calls of "Chima! Chima!" could be heard when Chima was spotted on the ward.
The presence of Chima brightens the daily routine of the hospital staff, providing them with emotional uplift during demanding workdays. Annette Niehaus-Scherpenberg, the head of the station, was convinced of the benefits of therapy dogs after observing one in Oldenburg.
Therapy dogs like Chima have been shown to have significant benefits in hospital settings. They can alleviate depression and help lower blood pressure in patients, according to Niehaus-Scherpenberg. In addition, they provide a calming presence that lowers patients' blood pressure and stress hormone levels such as cortisol, while increasing oxytocin, which promotes trust and comfort.
These interactions lead to reduced anxiety and improved mood for patients, including distraction for children facing medical procedures and companionship for those who feel isolated during hospitalization. Therapy dogs also help reduce patients’ perception of pain and foster a more positive hospital atmosphere, benefiting not only patients but also healthcare staff by alleviating their stress and improving mental health.
Chief Physician Thomas Ahrens considers the visit of the therapy dog a success. In the future, Chima may also visit patients on the palliative care ward. All the efforts of the training and the weeks of developing the hygiene concept seem to have paid off, as Chima's visits create a soothing environment, helping both patients and staff feel calmer, more relaxed, and emotionally uplifted.
Key benefits of therapy dogs like Chima include:
- Lowered patient anxiety and stress through hormone regulation (cortisol decrease, oxytocin increase).
- Reduced blood pressure and heart rate, supporting physiological relaxation.
- Enhanced emotional support by providing companionship and reducing feelings of loneliness or isolation.
- Decreased perception of pain during hospital stays.
- Improved workplace wellbeing and stress reduction for hospital staff.
- Positive distraction and comfort for children undergoing medical treatments.
These comprehensive effects contribute to a more holistic healing environment and demonstrate why therapy dogs like Chima are valuable in hospital settings such as Klinikum Osnabrück.
- In addition to brightening the daily routines of hospital staff, therapy dogs like Chima can also have significant benefits for the health-and-wellness of patients, assists in mental-health support by alleviating depression and lowering blood pressure.
- Therapy dogs, whether with their calming presence or interactions with patients, can help promote trust and comfort among patients, impacting hormone levels such as cortisol and increasing oxytocin, which ultimately reduces anxiety and improves mood.
- Lifestyle at Klinikum Osnabrück embracesthe inclusion of pets like Chima, enhance to a holistic healing environment by providing emotional uplift, physiological relaxation, and positive distraction for both patients and hospital staff.
