Animal-Assisted Interventions in Health Care Settings : A Best Practices Manual for Establishing New Programs (9781557538154)
Growing literature around the benefits ofanimal-assisted intervention (AAI) spurs health care professionals andadministrators to start new programs. Yet the trend also raises questions ofhow best to begin and run successful AAI programs-under what circumstances,with what staff, and within what guidelines. Animal-Assisted Interventions in Health Care Settings: A BestPractices Manual for Establishing New Programs succinctly outlines how best to develop, implement, run, andevaluate AAI programs. Drawing on extensive professional experiences andresearch from more than fifteen years leading the Center for Human-AnimalInteraction in the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, theauthors discuss both best practices and best reasons for establishing AAIprograms. For thorough consideration, the text explores benefits from a varietyof perspectives, including how AAI can improve patient experience, provideadditional career development for staff, and contribute favorably toorganizatio...