Compass the Therapy Dog Helps Young Child With Speech Therapy

Compass, one of six therapy dogs within Memorial Healthcare System, has been working with speech therapy patients at the new Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital’s Therapy Service facility located at the Memorial Hospital Miramar.

Compass works around the entire hospital helping patients and their families feel better during their visit to the hospital.

Two months ago, speech pathologist Rita Galliano began inviting Compass to a session with two-year-old girl named Valeria.

Josette Mullins, director with the Memorial Rehabilitation Institute in Miramar says the young child’s progress has improved significantly since she began working with Compass.

Compassionate Patient- and Family-Centered Care
Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Therapy Services delivers patient- and family-centered
care by embracing a collaborative approach among patients, families, physicians, therapists
and healthcare professionals. Family members are the patient’s primary source of emotional
support, and we provide extensive information and education so they can better understand
their loved one’s condition and how to help them during treatment. We recognize that the
family is the strongest foundation in a child’s life and has the greatest influence over a child’s
health and well-being. Therefore, our collaborative approach involves:
• Recognizing and promoting the family’s role as the child’s primary caregiver
• Respecting and involving the family in decision-making and care giving
• Sharing information in ways that empower and support the patient and family
• Accepting and building on family strengths and methods of coping
• Involving the family in all aspects of the planning, delivery and evaluation
of healthcare services
Our staff is committed to meet the medical and therapeutic needs
of the young patients entrusted to our care.
Therapy Dogs
Pet therapy is one of the unique aspects of Joe DiMaggio
Children’s Hospital Therapy Services.