Hospital Opens Hallways for Patients Walking “Dogs”

Peachtree, NC  –   Murphy Medical Center (MMC) encourages surgery patients to bring his or her dog to the hospital — a photo of their beloved pet, that is. The Medical/Surgical Department began 2009 with a new program for patients called “Walk the Dog.” It is based on Duke University Health System’s successful patient improvement project to increase walking in post-operative patients. Increased movement helps patients heal faster and prevent complications after surgery, studies have shown.
Teresa Bowleg, Medical/Surgical Nurse Manager and Walk the Dog Program Director said she learned about Duke’s program in October at the Medical/Surgical Nurses Convention in Nashville, TN. “Learning about the successful walking program from Duke’s nursing team caught our attention. Their enthusiasm for the program was contagious.”

“We knew that we could bring the program to Murphy Medical and implement it with as much success because it’s a fun way to get patients involved in their own surgical recovery,” Bowleg stated. “Evidence that early ambulation (walking) from post-operative patients proves positive effects – prevention of blood clots and post-op pneumonia are among the numerous benefits for our patients.”

During the hospitalized recovery period each participant is given their own “dog” to walk if they do not bring a photo of their own pet during the pre-operative interview. The dog is a laminated photo attached to an IV pole. Certified Nursing Assistants encourage patients and assist them during daily walks in the hospital’s hallways.

“We (Med/ Surg Nursing Staff) believe that adopting ‘Walk the Dog’ will assist in motivating patients and nursing staff to achieve early ambulation goals, promoting positive patient outcomes, improving team work and increasing work environment satisfaction,” Bowleg said. 

About Murphy Medical Center:
Murphy Medical Center is a non-profit 57-bed hospital with a 24-hour Emergency Department and a 134-bed long-term healthcare facility including a 14-bed Alzheimer’s Unit.  It also operates Good Shepherd Home Health & Hospice Agency, MMC Urgent Care Center, Peachtree Rehabilitation and Athletic Center (PARC), Center for Women’s Health, and Murphy Group Practice.

Cutline: Certified Nursing Assistants (l-r) Jennifer Eller, Cindy Powell, Delores Corn, and Beth Rosendale, exhibit the “dogs” used to assist post-operative patients.