Fitzgerald III was introduced this week as Gulf Coast Medical Center’s new facility dog. PROVIDED

The first Gulf Coast Medical Center facility dog, a 2-year-old Labrador retriever, is now assisting staff with occupational and physical therapy patients.

“Fitzgerald III is adjusting well. Patients and staff look forward to seeing him and we love having him here to help make the hospital stay a little easier for patients and families and aid the recovery process,” Gulf Coast Medical Center Chief Nursing and Operations Executive Darcy Allen said in a prepared statement. “He is dedicated to his job and has such a calming presence for both staff and patients. Sometimes, his presence alone can really make an impact on a patient’s recovery. He trains twice a day and still makes time for fetch, one of his favorite activities. We’ve enjoyed working with Canine Companions and we know it’s the start of a fantastic relationship.”

Jean Rodgers, the caretaker of Fitzgerald, said he came from Canine Companions, a national organization that breeds their dogs in California and sends them nationwide to be trained. She said the dogs are sent to formal training in one of six national sites where they are vetted.

The national organization provides service dogs to those with disabilities, as well as facility dogs to professionals in healthcare, criminal justice and educational organizations, all free of charge.

“We just couldn’t be happier with the level of professionalism. The way they care,” she said of the organization, adding that they have monthly conference calls. “Their success depends on our success.”

Rodgers said the dogs are trained in anywhere from 25 to 40 different commands. She said they went through the application process last January and were placed on the waiting list at the beginning of June.

“I got called in October to come up for a training. He is just the best little boy. He just turned 2. He is mostly golden but presents as a lab. He’s one of the sweetest dogs, so in-tuned with patients and everybody,” Rodgers said. “He was raised by a man in Tampa. This was his 16th dog to raise.”

He arrived at Rodgers’ house on Nov. 3, and started at the Gulf Coast Medical Center on Nov. 6.

“He’s getting used to his surroundings,” she said.

Occupation Therapist Megan Hendrix said it has been beautiful to see how quickly Fitzgerald has acclimated to the hospital. She said he has already built on the commands he knows and has learned to apply that to specific populations – oncology patients, neuro patients, as well as any other psychosocial needs to initiate treatment and therapy.

“He does have a broad spectrum of commands,” Hendrix said.

One of those commands is working with an orthopedic patient who has just come out of spinal surgery and may be afraid to get out of bed. She said Fitzgerald will use the pull command to help the patient get out of bed while facilitating good body mechanics.

Fitzgerald will also work with oncology patients by helping them conserve their energy. Hendrix said he will walk alongside them, at their pace, and will sit when they need intermediate breaks along the way.

For those patients who are relearning how to get dressed, Fitzgerald is there to help – helping the patient pull off their socks.

“He is super gentle now,” Hendrix said.

Need a Kleenex, Fitzgerald is there to provide those, too.

The help also comes in the form of games with the patients in practicing fine motor skills and hand/eye coordination. She said Fitzgerald can pull out a piece the size of a coffee stirrer while taking turns with the patient.

“It’s a fun way to have seated activity time,” Hendrix said. “Some people have to be here for a while. Having him be a part of that is much more joyful.”

She said Fitzgerald has had a beautiful effect on patients and is helping them do better in whatever it is they are tackling.

It’s “animal-based mindfulness,” Hendrix said.

The friendly dog also offers emotional support.

Hendrix said an oncology patient who had undergone treatment, said they were done and wanted Hospice.

“We were able to go in there and be with her. He sat in the bed with her and put his head on her lap, her hand on his paw,” she said, adding the patient said it was real comfort and they knew they could handle it. “It was a beautiful moment.”

Hendrix said Fitzgerald makes everything better.

Therapy Manager Michelle Standard said when they first came together with this vision of a program, she does not think they truly understood the impact Fitzgerald would have.

“I couldn’t be prouder of Megan and Jean for all of their work. It’s a unique experience, and I am so grateful to be a part of it,” she said.

Fitzgerald works four days a week from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. He exercises for an hour a day. Rodgers said they take him upstairs for 20 minutes to get his heart rate up and wiggles out.

“He sees a couple of patients in the morning and one to two in the afternoon. We are trying to ease him into it. We don’t want to overwhelm him too much. We have to give him rest breaks,” she said.

The Lee Health Foundation is sponsoring Fitzgerald’s ongoing care. He joins Dorian and Lemon, two other facility dogs, who focus on pediatric patients at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.

For more information about Fitzgerald III, or any of the other facility dogs, visit leehealth.org.