WYOMING, Mich. -- A new K9 security program at UM Health-West is designed to bring calm and comfort to the hospital, while keeping patients, staff and visitors safe.
The nonprofit health system's main hospital is located in Metro Health Village and serves more than 250,000 patients annually, per Wikipedia.
UM Health-West says the K9 security program includes three Belgian Malinois/German shepherd dogs. And each trainer/dog team recently earned national certification.
"Patients light up when they walk by," the hospital said in a news release.
Below are details from that release:
The new teams add another layer of protection while helping create a calm and welcoming environment for care.
The K9 teams include Derek Karcher and Tukka, Isaiah Sandretto and Cisa, and Austin Fine and Buzz. All three dogs are Belgian Malinois–German shepherd mixes, bred in Europe and trained in Southwest Michigan before being paired with their handlers in August. The teams graduated Oct. 23 in Niles after completing basic K9 handler school and earning national certification through the International Police Work Dog Association. Each team is certified in explosives detection, patrol work and healthcare-specific service. All three also passed UM Health-West’s internal K9 standards test.
Violence in healthcare has risen across the country, impacting patients and caregivers. Healthcare workers are five times more likely to be injured on the job than those in other fields. UM Health-West’s new K9 program aims to reduce those risks by deterring disruptive behavior, helping to de-escalate tense situations and supporting a safer environment for everyone. The dogs also bring comfort and connection for patients, visitors and staff.
“These dogs are an extension of our mission to put patients first,” said Ronald Grifka, M.D., president of UM Health-West. “They bring security and reassurance, helping us maintain a safe and welcoming hospital environment.”
Gary Gorski, director of security at UM Health-West, said the teams are already making a positive impact. “Our K9s are highly trained and dedicated to protecting our hospital community. They help us prevent and respond to threats, and they connect with people in a way that builds trust and calm.”
The program is overseen by Gorski and Richard Prince, K9 program manager, and supported in part by a grant from the UM Health-West Foundation. UM Health-West joins Michigan Medicine, UM Health-Sparrow and other health systems across the state that have introduced hospital-based K9 security programs.
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About University of Michigan Health-West
University of Michigan Health-West is a nonprofit multispecialty medical provider that is relentlessly advancing health to serve West Michigan as part of the state’s top-ranked health system. Founded in Grand Rapids in 1942 by a group of osteopathic doctors, our organization today serves more than 250,000 patients annually at 30 locations across four counties, including a 208-bed teaching hospital in Wyoming, Michigan. More than 61,000 emergency patients are treated each year at the hospital, a Verified Level II Trauma Center, certified Comprehensive Stroke Center and accredited Chest Pain Center. Our physician-led medical group, University of Michigan Health Partners, drives excellence and convenient access to primary and specialty care, including the expertise of University of Michigan Health, consistently ranked among the nation’s top academic medical centers. In addition to earning top grades for safety and quality, University of Michigan Health-West is consistently recognized as a leader in the use of technology and as an inclusive employer of choice. It supports the health and wellness of all in the community, offering free Live Healthy education programs as well as outreach clinics to underserved areas. Learn more at www.uofmhealthwest.org
Austin and Buzz.Photo: From: University of Michigan Health.