Service Animals

[NOSfan]

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Patient requests 'service' animal to accompany while in the pre-procedural area.....do you allow?

 

[SSdoc33]

Patient requests 'service' animal to accompany while in the pre-procedural area.....do you allow?

i dont. and it caused a big stink, no pun intended. people get pretty attached to these animals, but there is very little oversight on what actually "qualifies" as a service animal.

 

[nvrsumr]

I allow everywhere but procedure and pre/post room. I would just keep that patient in an exam room until you take her back to procedure suite.

 

[VA Hopeful Dr]

i dont. and it caused a big stink, no pun intended. people get pretty attached to these animals, but there is very little oversight on what actually "qualifies" as a service animal.

I've made 1 exception in 5 years and that was a patient who contracted polio from the vaccine and has some pretty impressive post-polio symptoms. She gets to bring her yappy POS dog to appointments.

 

[Ducttape]

not in the procedure room. in the pre-procedure area, I did once... but the animal took a dump in there and so now there are no service animals allowed in pre-an.

 

[Gauss]

there's a big legal difference between service and therapy animals. A disabled patient with a certified service animal is protected under ADA, therapy is not

 

[Timeoutofmind]

not in the procedure room. in the pre-procedure area, I did once... but the animal took a dump in there and so now there are no service animals allowed in pre-an.

lol

 

[NOSfan]

there's a big legal difference between service and therapy animals. A disabled patient with a certified service animal is protected under ADA, therapy is not

Agreed......This was truly a service animal (patient deaf).

Wonder at what point ADA and sterility come into play?

 

[Ducttape]

from US DOJ, ADA:

ADA Requirements: Service Animals

Under the ADA, State and local governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations that serve the public generally must allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas of the facility where the public is normally allowed to go. For example, in a hospital it would be inappropriate to exclude a service animal from areas such as patient rooms, clinics, cafeterias, or examination rooms. However, it may be appropriate to exclude a service animal from operating rooms or burn units where the animal’s presence may compromise a sterile environment.

and from NC ADA:
https://www.disabilityrightsnc.org/sites/default/files/Service%20Animal-MedicalSettings-Self-Advocacy%20Packet%20DRNC.pdf

So I can take my service animal with me to the doctor, hospital, dentist, etc.?


Yes, within limits. Service animals are not allowed in operating rooms or other highly controlled and sterile environments. This same rule usually applies to humans. For example, your husband or mother is usually not allowed in the operating room because it increases the risk of germs and infections. Similarly, your service animal should not be in there either.

 

[cowboydoc]

I will never forget that yippie little Bichon that was a "pelvic pain therapy dog" that pissed on my boot.

In clinic, your call. In procedure suite, no way!

 

[drusso]

Yes. This is a real problem. Agree that the animal must be a CERTIFIED service animal from an accredited training program. I've had patients try to pass off "service" pee-cocks and "service" gerbils as bonafide service animals. Also, no service animals allowed in bathroom when patient is asked for UDS.

 

[Aether2000]

You may not ask for proof of certification. There is no nationally recognized accrediting or certification entity. Also, in some cases you may not ask if it is a service dog. https://adata.org/faq/how-can-i-tell-if-animal-really-service-animal-and-not-just-pet

 

[geauxg8rs]

I have heard the latest is having a therapy dog for your therapy dog. I guess it causes a lot of stress to be around the patient all day long. airlines are trying to call bs on this.

 

[dhcofc]

I have looked into this before. You are allowed to ask someone if the animal is a service animal and what function it serves (help walking, alert others of seizure, anxiety, etc). That is basically the only question you can ask them that they must answer about the animal. You can’t force them to reveal their actual disability to decide whether to allow animal entry. If it is a service animal you generally cannot legally deny entry anywhere except in a sterile area. So because you can’t ask any questions except the one above, there is no legal way to try and figure out whether they were “certified.” Also there is no official certifier through the government.

 

[dhcofc]

After my reply

You may not ask for proof of certification. There is no nationally recognized accrediting or certification entity. Also, in some cases you may not ask if it is a service dog. https://adata.org/faq/how-can-i-tell-if-animal-really-service-animal-and-not-just-pet

The main idea from the link that I saw was:

To determine if an animal is a service animal, you may ask two questions:

1. Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
2. What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

You may not ask these questions if the need for the service animal is obvious. Examples include when a dog is guiding an individual who is blind or is pulling a person’s wheelchair. You also may not:


-- ask about the nature or extent of an individual’s disability
-- require proof that the animal has been certified, trained or licensed as a service animal
-- require the animal to wear an identifying vest or tag
-- ask that the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the task or work

 

[drrosenrosen]

I'm all for protecting people with disabilities, but this is really ridiculous to me. Especially when you can get your dog "certified" as a therapy dog online as easily as your buddy can get "ordained" to do your wedding.

 

[lonelobo]

But can you get your service dog ordained to do your Wedding?

 

[Agast]

I only have one patient bringing in a service dog. He detects low blood sugar. He’s such a sweetie it’s really really hard not to pet him, he just lays there quietly on the ground. He also licked my bad knee once on the way out so I’m convinced he’s brilliant. Basically I would take this dog over any patient any day if insurance would cover it 😀