The Animal Assisted Care program (AAC) at Inova Health System was established in 2001 to complement patient rehabilitation & recovery efforts and provides patients with an opportunity to interact with dogs.

The Inova Animal Assisted Care program:

  • Works with the healthcare team and patient to allow a patient to visit with a dog while in the hospital
  • Requires a written Doctor's Order before any patient is contacted
  • Complies with the Center for Disease Control, the Association of Professionals in Infection Control and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America guidelines for therapy and service animal access