He doesn’t sport a fancy title but everyone at work knows Hank, the big burly guy with the smooth gait.
His patient ways endear him to colleagues. He has this knack of bringing people of all job descriptions together. Nobody works harder than this gentle giant.
Walk through the doors of Hamilton General Hospital as Morgan Richardson does every day, with Hank, and people will call out Hank’s name.
“Hank is the star of the show,” said Richardson, Hamilton Health Sciences manager volunteer resources, communications and public affairs.
And she is the person who recruited Hank, the 18-month-old, 100lb-plus Newfie dog who has been ‘hired’ to improve the emotional well being and resilience of hospital staff through the implementation of a specialized animal assisted therapy program.
With the backing of HHS leadership, Richardson began a two-year exploration of facility dogs’ impacts within healthcare settings.
The pick of the litter
The data was encouraging in terms of the potential for improved staff resilience and engagement, enhanced communication between teams, better staff mental health and the reduction of staff burnout.
So, the search began for “something large, something fluffy”. Since Newfoundland dogs are known for their docile, intelligent ways and sweet disposition, Richardson chose this breed and worked with a breeder to find a puppy with “a personality to sustain the work of a facility dog.”
Along came Hank. He was the most docile, composed, most relaxed of the litter, according to the breeder.
Six months later, Hank began visiting the hospital once a week to get acclimatized to “every day interactions he might experience”, and build up his capacity, said Richardson.
“He’s been on unit for about eight months and we’re getting that feedback that we’re meeting the mark. I’m very thankful that the organization entrusted me to bring forward a really unconventional resilience resource. You can look at other hospitals, you won’t find many doing this.”
Staff engagement was key, a process that began with naming the furry new employee.
“We really wanted to make them feel that Hank is their own.” His name was the result of an organization-wide poll.
On call for staff
Hank responds on a referral basis and works exclusively with staff.
“When they call, we will come. This was very important to me that this program was very intentional and thoughtful.”
Hank and his handlers respond to critical incident debriefs, bereavement support needs, code blues, even staff meetings. To debunk the notion that Hank was the harbinger of “storm clouds”, he is also invited to celebrations such as retirement parties, she said.
“He is all-purpose.”
Hank is not a pilot project, but a fixture, said Richardson.
“He is exclusively resourced to the Hamilton General four days a week and then we partner with Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre one day a week.”
An 'ordinary dog' at home
The hope is that each HHS site might eventually have their own facility dog because of the encouraging preliminary impact, said Richardson.
He is owned by the organization but Richardson said she has “the fine fortune of bringing him home at night, and the honour and the privilege,” where he gets to be a normal puppy.
“It’s very important to his own mental health that he become and assume a normal dog role. When he steps foot, or paw, onto the hospital floor he knows his role.”
“He actually has his own inbox and sometimes it’s busier than mine.”
The program is fully supported by volunteers, with two secondary trained handlers, including Waterdown’s Carolyn Ascroft, so there is no additional financial burden to HHS.
And if Hank’s heroics at HHS weren’t enough, on Nov. 26 he will be heading to Glanbrook Veterinary Services in Hamilton to donate blood to the Canadian Animal Blood Bank for the first time, each donation having the potential to save up to three dogs.
