• Welcome Letter
• Becoming a Dogs On Call Team
• Policies & Procedures

BECOMING A D.O.C. TEAM

The following is a checklist of requirements designed to facilitate your becoming a DOC team. Please read over the entire list, and don't hesitate to contact Center Program Coordinator, Denice Ekey at Dekey@vcu.edu, or Volunteer Services at 804-828-0922 with any questions.

GENERAL

1._______ Have an enthusiastic attitude for visiting patients and staff alike – knowing you are contributing so much to their care and well being!!

2._______ Understand that requirements exist as follows:

• Your dog must satisfy the requirements of DOC policies and procedures to begin visiting with you in the hospital.
• To become a volunteer in the VCU Medical Center, you must complete the requirements of Volunteer Services, as outlined below.
• DOC policies and procedures must be followed during every hospital visit.

CHECK-OFF LIST FOR YOUR DOG'S REQUIREMENTS

(the dog end of the leash!)

1._______ Completion of approved therapy dog program.

We require dogs to be registered by the Delta Society's Pet Partners Program. Delta Society requires training and evaluation to register with their Pet Partners Program. The link provided below to Delta's website will provide you with more information and may answer any questions you have. We arrange periodic Delta workshops and evaluation for those interested in joining our Dogs On Call Program. Once you have completed Delta's Pet Partner registration, we will orient you to the VCU Medical Center and provide you with written information outlining visitation requirements and other helpful information.

Delta Society - www.deltasociety.org

CHECK-OFF LIST FOR VOLUNTEER SERVICES REQUIREMENTS

(the people end of the leash!)

1._______ Contact Vol. Services (828-0922 - first floor Main Hosp. rm. 414) to inquire about volunteer requirements. Please visit the Volunteer Services website for details: www.vcuhealth.org/volunteers and click on "Adult volunteers".

2._______ Receive ID - iindicating that all required forms (for you and your dog) have been approved.

CHECK-OFF LIST AFTER APPROVAL OF FORMS AND COMPLETION OF DELTA SOCIETY PET PARTNER REGISTRATION

1. _______ Notify the Center for Human-Animal Interaction (827-PAWS) when all requirements for you AND your dog have been met. Copies of all forms and registration should be sent to the Center (PO Box 980710, Richmond VA 23298-0710).

2._______ Whenever you are in the hospital you must have your hospital ID appropriately displayed. In addition, please wear your Dogs On Call volunteer shirt and have your dog's Delta Pet Partner's ID readily available. Please check with Volunteer Services to make sure your ID badge is keyed to access the Volunteer Services Office after normal business hours.

3._______ Obtain your volunteer parking card from Vol. Services. This card will allow free parking in the patient/volunteer deck while you are volunteering. These cards are renewed Jan.1 of every year.

4._______ Arrange shadowing by contacting me at dekey@vcu.edu to let me know when you are ready. You will follow a DOC team through a typical visit in the hospital - first, you visit without your dog, then, as you and the staff feel comfortable, you will bring your dog and be shadowed by someone until all agree you and your dog are ready to visit on your own. For those visiting Pediatric Units, a Child Life Specialist from Pediatrics will schedule shadowing and provide orientation to Pediatrics.

5._______ Acquaint yourself with the sign-in/sign-out procedures. Visits require signing the volunteer book in the Volunteer Office when you enter and leave the hospital. After 6:00pm, arrangements must be made through Vol. Services to record you and your dog's volunteer time.

6._______ Decide the area(s) you may want to visit, along with your scheduling needs and preferences. Our DOC teams are allowed in most areas of the hospital. We would be happy to discuss the kinds of experiences that would best fit you and your dog’s personalities. Visits usually last from 1 to 2 hours and can be arranged during the day, nights, and weekends. It is very important that scheduling requirements be met. We must know where and when our DOC teams are visiting at all times. Advance planning and scheduling with staff, along with the sign-in/sign-out procedures will provide proper visitation documentation.

7._______ Check that you have completed all the steps and filed all appropriate papers with the Center, and enjoy your visits!!

Please DO NOT HESITATE to contact Denice Ekey, Program Coordinator, at Dekey@vcu.edu if you have any questions at all. Your efforts to complete this process are appreciated and we want to help you in any way we can. Please understand that you and your dog are truly members of a very special and elite group of volunteers here at the VCU Medical Center. Thank you for your incredible dedication to this wonderful program!

Denice Ekey, Program Coordinator - Center For Human-Animal Interaction