• Welcome Letter
• Becoming a Dogs On Call Team
• MCV Volunteer Data Sheet
• MCV Volunteer Reference Form
• 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 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

1._______ Certificate of completion of approved therapy dog program.

While we have conducted in-house testing and certification in the past, we now require dogs to be registered by an independent group. The Delta Society conducts training and testing to complete registration through their Pet Partners Program. While Delta does not have a Richmond representative, they do have representatives in other Virginia locations. The Center arranges annual testing in Richmond, however you may contact Delta directly through their website to find a testing location nearest you. The website below will give you more information and may answer any questions you have. Upon completion of the Delta Society Pet Partners Program, you will receive documentation that you have completed their registration requirements.

Delta Society - www.deltasociety.org

CHECK-OFF LIST FOR VOLUNTEER SERVICES REQUIREMENTS

(the people end of the leash!)

1._______ Complete the attached Volunteer Data Sheet as required by the Volunteer Services.

2._______ Give the attached Volunteer Reference Forms to two of your friends or co-workers who know you well. They can provide the requested information and return the forms to the address listed on the bottom of the form.

3._______ Contact Vol. Services (828-0922 - first floor Main Hosp. rm. 414) to submit the Volunteer Data form and arrange for an interview and orientation. Plan to spend approximately 2hrs. At orientation, a copy of your driver's license will be made in order for you to obtain your hospital ID. In addition, you will be asked to complete a state police criminal background check form. Of course, all information must be approved before becoming a volunteer. Orientation also includes training on infection control, safety training as it pertains to the health system environment, the use of fire extinguishers, confidentiality issues, customer service information, and other requirements for volunteers.

4._______ At the end of orientation you will be asked to go to Employee Health to receive a health screening and a TB test. This is a requirement for every health system employee - paid and volunteer. The Employee Health staff will ask you to return in 3 or 4 days to check the outcome of this skin test.

5._______ Receive notification that all required forms (for you and your dog) have been approved.

CHECK-OFF LIST AFTER APPROVAL OF FORMS AND CERTIFICATION

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 certification should be sent to the Center (PO Box 980710, Richmond VA 23298-0710).

2._______ Obtain your hospital ID (check with Vol. Services -this requires valid driver's license or other photo id). Your photo must be taken and the hospital ID will be made while you wait (ID Office – Tompkins-McCaw Library, 509 N. 12 th St.). Whenever you are in the hospital you must have this ID appropriately displayed. In addition, please wear your Dogs On Call volunteer shirt and have your dog's certification information readily available.

3._______ Obtain your volunteer parking card from Vol. Services. This card will allow free parking in the patient/volunteer deck while you are volunteering. For every visit, upon exiting the parking deck, you will give the attendant this card, along with the parking stub you pulled out of the machine when you entered. You sign this stub and they will return your volunteer parking card to you before you leave the deck. These cards are renewed Jan.1 of every year.

4._______ Arrange shadowing by contacting me at dekey@vcu.edu to let me know 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.

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. Volunteers may also obtain a discount lunch ticket on the day that they volunteer (good in the cafeteria and Chick-fil-a).

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, 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