Policies & Procedure – Accessibility – Service animals

PERTH AND SMITHS FALLS DISTRICT HOSPITAL – Policy and Procedure

CREATION DATE: March 15, 2010

APPROVED BY: Senior Leadership Council

APPROVAL DATE: March 31, 2010

POLICY NAME:   Accessibility – Service Animals

Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital is committed to promoting, providing and maintaining an environment where respect and dignity is demonstrated at all times.  In accordance with the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service Ontario Regulation 429/07 of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, the hospital supports the right of the individual to be accompanied by a Service animal except where excluded by law.  The person requiring a Service animal may be asked to provide a letter from a physician or nurse, or documentation from the Ministry of the Attorney General’s office confirming that the person requires a Service animal.

Please Note:  It is recognized that Service animals are not pets but working animals.  Staff will refrain from touching or petting the Service animal.

Procedures:

Service animals may accompany people with disabilities in all public areas of the hospital except where excluded by law or where there is risk to a staff person or member of the public (e.g. risk of allergic reaction).

The Patient Care Manager (or Manager on call) is to be contacted whenever a patient with a Service animal is admitted to the Hospital.

Service animals are not permitted where sterile procedures occur in accordance with the Health Promotion and Protection Act including but not limited to:

• Operating Rooms
• Minor Procedure rooms or rooms where sterile interventional procedures are occurring
• In any room where radiation exposure occurs
• Rooms in which transmission based precautions are in place (e.g.  Isolation rooms)
• Food preparation areas

The patient is responsible for the care and supervision of his/her Service animal including feeding, toileting, exercising and clean-up when needed.  Staff is not expected to provide care or food for the animal.

Elective Admissions:

All reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate the patient and service animal.  Nursing staff, physicians and the person with a disability will collaborate, discuss and develop an accessibility plan identifying necessary support arrangements.

Staff will collaborate and discuss with the person with a disability areas where the presence of a Service animal is not allowed prior to their arrival (where possible) and develop alternative arrangements.

The patient is advised of the following:

• The service animal must remain with the patient at all times
• If the patient is unable to manage the service animal, a designated support person must assume full responsibility for the animal.
• Staff will not be involved in any aspect of the care of service animals.

Out-patient Procedures and Clinic Appointments:

All reasonable efforts are to be made to accommodate a patient with a service animal.

Emergency Admissions:

Conscious patients able to manage the Service animal are not to be separated without the consent of the patient.  For an arriving unconscious patient with a service animal, a staff member will temporarily assume care until a next of kin is notified and arrives to assume responsibility during the transition period.

Responsibility for the Animal:

At the time of admission, the patient is informed:

• The service animal must remain with the patient at all times
• The patient or a support person is responsible for all aspects of care for the service animal
• Staff will not be involved in any aspect of the care of service animals
• If the patient is unable to manage the service animal, a designated support person must assume full responsibility for the animal during the transition period

Staff and Physicians:

• Shall not separate or attempt to separate a patient from their service animal
• Shall not touch, pet, or make noise at the service animal as this may distract the animal from its duties
• Shall not feed the service animal
• Shall not provide care for the service animal while engaged in the provision of their normal duties.

References:

1. Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005.
2. Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 Customer Service Standard 429/07.
3. Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. Training Resource: Customer Service Standard 429/07
4. Health Protection and Promotion Act
5. Ontario Human Rights Code
6. Hamilton Health Sciences, COPR Service Animals in the hospital Policy and Procedure

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