Sarah Duncan identified an initiative to help Veterans who are part of our Opioid Reassessment Clinic. These Veterans have high anxiety when coming to this clinic since their expectation is that the ORC team will be taking their opioid medication away from them. These Veterans are suffering from pain and in most cases feel that the opioids prescribed by their PC provider are the only medications that will work for them.
Sarah's commitment to Veterans and their family members caused her to start an initiative that would help reduce their anxiety. She received an innovation grant to introduce Animal Assisted therapy. Early results indicate that this initiative is very successful in engaging Veterans proactively in their health care. Most Veterans return to the ORC clinic to see either Truman or Hersey. Their stress/anxiety is reduced enough so they can actively participate in their treatment plan with the ORC team. This initiative focuses on serving the Veteran in pain. The Animal Assisted therapy initiative provides dignity and respect to the Veterans it serves. Sarah's initiative strives to provide the highest of care intervention. This is truly an impressive process improvement initiative. Results:
• Impact on BP/HR noted
• Positive impact on Veteran Experience
• Decreased anxiety scores