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"Dr. Buddy" Brings Good Health and Good Cheer to Patients and Co-workers |
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| News and Features - Around Washington, MO |
| Tuesday, 29 June 2010 |
 At Dr. Jennifer Stearnes' Family Medicine practice in Washington, Missouri, everyone has a job to do, including the family dog, Buddy. Buddy is a 150-pound, 6-year-old Bull Mastiff with credentials. He's a certified therapy dog, which means he's trained and licensed to visit patients. Some might call him "Dr. Buddy," but others just call him "a big, gentle, lovable dog." "He's so lovable, so agreeable and laid back," said Dr. Stearnes' patient, Sally Pelisari of Villa Ridge. "He's a person almost. I'm positive he knows he's in the office for a reason. You look in those eyes and you know there's a lot going on in there." Barbara Faust of Lake Sherwood credits Buddy for lowering her blood pressure, which – like test anxiety for students – tends to go up when she's about to have it checked. "I get worked up while I'm in the waiting room, thinking about taking that test, thinking about ‘What if it goes up?' – but then I feel much calmer after petting Buddy for a while," Faust said. Faust arrives with dog treats and will roll around on the floor, playing with Buddy. She and other patients are known to schedule their appointments around Buddy's office hours "It's ridiculous how popular he is," said Dr. Stearnes. "People love him. They ask about him. They bring treats. He gets Christmas gifts. And it all seems to be in return for what he does for them; lowering their blood pressure, making them feel more comfortable in the doctor's office or waiting room or medical environment. Therapy dogs are very successful in bringing emotional support where we humans fail, by no fault of our own." Studies have shown that in addition to lowering blood pressure, pet therapy can reduce stress, reduce focus on pain, elevate positive and cheerful moods and increase physical movement, verbalization and socialization. A side effect is that pet therapy benefits the staffs where these four-legged creatures visit by creating therapeutic opportunities for them and increasing socialization between the staffs and the patients they serve. Buddy lives with Dr. Stearnes and her husband, fellow St. John's Mercy Medical Group physician Dr. Gary Rosas, in their home in Washington. When Buddy is not making rounds in patient rooms at Dr. Stearnes' practice, he is with Dr. Rosas at area nursing homes or in the Emergency Department at St. John's Mercy Hospital. "At the nursing homes, especially, Buddy is definitely more popular than I am, but I'm OK with that," said Dr. Rosas. "My patients really thrive on his company. A while back, I had a patient who went into the Intensive Care Unit at St. John's Mercy Hospital and she asked if she could see Buddy and, of course, I took him to see her. Her memory was not the best, but she always remembered Buddy's name. It meant a lot to her that she got to see him in the ICU." Drs. Rosas and Stearnes are aware that not everyone has an affection for animals, so Buddy is only introduced to patients who show an interest in meeting him. Most say yes. As Buddy's professional circles have widened, he's made more friends. When he works with Dr. Rosas in the Emergency Department, he can stay in one spot while co-workers come to him to say hello. Co-workers and physicians offer him snacks, back and belly rubs, and even pull out their cell phones to snap pictures of him doing something cute – which is often. They speak with adoration about his under bite, his enormous size and his wrinkled face. Kristie Johnson, a registered nurse in the emergency department, said, "I get so excited when I see Dr. Rosas. I see him and then I look around to see if he's got Buddy with him." Emergency Department physician Dr. Melissa Stapp added, "Everyone is so happy when he's around." Not that Buddy is a complete angel. He may be a "doctor" but he's still a dog. "It's easy to put your food down – lunch, dinner, breakfast , it doesn't matter – and step away or turn around for just a second, forgetting that, to him, food is at eye level and seems like it's put there for him," Dr. Stearnes said. "Let's just say he's eaten a lot of meals that didn't belong to him." Despite being a working dog, Buddy lives a remarkably leisurely life. "He doesn't work every day, unless he wants to. He knows what ‘work' means. If I say ‘Do you want to go to work today?' and he gets excited, he comes to work. If he doesn't, he stays home," Dr. Stearnes said. The people who've grown fond of his therapeutic skills hope he chooses work. "When I'm there, I look for him, and if he's not there, I ask for him. Buddy just makes me feel better. He gives me a lift," said Dr. Stearnes' patient Pat Coureton of Washington. Her husband, Harold, feels the same. "He's so friendly; he just makes you feel good." After spending his days spreading good health and good cheer, Buddy steps into his bed, a twin-size mattress laid out in "Mom and Dad's" room, and drifts off to sleep, maybe knowing that tomorrow he gets to do it all again. Dr. Stearnes' office is located in Suite 208 in the St. John's Mercy Medical Building, 901 East Fifth Street in Washington, Mo. For more information about Buddy's services and availability as a therapy dog, or to make an appointment with Dr. Stearnes, call Dr. Stearnes' office at 636-390-9090. |
