Policy for Pets, Service Animals & Therapy Animals
NMMC has established specific guidelines for pets, service animals and therapy animals on our premises. Click here for the policy. If any conflict between this summary and the policy, the policy shall control.
- Service animals refer to guide dogs, signal dogs or other animals individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability.
- Therapy animals are allowed limited access. Access for therapy animals is as granted by the patient's provider.
- No animals are permitted to access sterile surgical areas or operating rooms. Any animal may be excluded from patient care areas of the emergency department, labor and delivery areas, maternity/nursing areas, intensive care units and other areas not open to the general public.
- While on NMMC property, animals should be restrained by the handler on a leash and/or other appropriate restraining devices at all times. Individuals who bring animals onto NMMC property are responsible for the immediate recovery and disposal of any and all of the animal’s excreta.
- NMMC does not assume any liability or responsibility for the safety, health or security of pets, service animals or therapy animals while at NMMC. This includes circumstances where an NMMC staff member might voluntarily undertake temporary supervision of any such animal in order to assist a patient or patient representative(s), as well as the common hazards any such pet, service animal or therapy animal may be exposed to while at NMMC.
- Pets (non-service or therapy animals) are not allowed on NMMC property. The sole exception is the NMMC Inpatient Hospice Unit, but prior permission must be obtained from the nursing supervisor or his/her designee.
- Service animals are welcome in any area open to the general public, provided the service animal does not create a fundamental alteration in NMMC operations or demonstrate behavior causing a potential safety hazard. The patient remains responsible for the care of the service animal unless the patient has no family, friends or resources to do so. Because not all NMMC areas are open to the general public, there may be certain times or places when the service animal is not permitted to accompany the patient. If a service animal is out of control or disruptive, the animal, patient and/or visitor may need to leave NMMC.
- With the patient’s permission, a therapy animal may visit a patient except during mealtime. The therapy handler will end the visit if the animal begins exhibiting unacceptable behavior. The patient’s room will be cleaned appropriately after a therapy animal visit.
