Bothwell Regional Health Center Welcomes Therapy Dog

One of newest employees at Bothwell Regional Health Center is a 3-year old dog named Roscoe.

A press release from BRHC says Roscoe is 3-years old, but he already knows how to boost spirits and comfort the sick.

“Even the grumpiest person cannot ignore Roscoe,” said Sarah Beaman, a counselor at Lincoln Elementary School and Roscoe’s closest friend. “Only very rarely has someone turned us away. He just seems to connect with everybody he meets.”

Roscoe is a border collie and corgi mix, also called a “borgi," He is trained as a new therapy dog for Bothwell.

The press release adds that Beaman obtained the dog in October 2016 from CARES Inc., based in Concordia, Kansas.

CARES stands for Canine Assistance, Rehabilitation, Education and Services. The program uses foster homes to teach puppies basic-obedience and socialization. The organization has also specialized foster puppy programs at the Kansas correctional facilities in Ellsworth and Hutchison.

Beaman received Roscoe from Ellsworth, where he was trained by inmates. BRHC say that since Roscoe was placed with Beaman, 'the two have been inseparable.' She takes him with her to school, on field trips, and to Lincoln sporting events.

Maggie Schaffer, a nurse and case management coordinator at BRHC, lmet Roscoe through Beaman. She mentioned Roscoe to BRHC Chief Nursing Officer Rose McMullin, who discussed the idea of bringing the service dog to the hospital with CEO Jimmy Robertson, to which Robertson said, “Absolutely!”

Roscoe recently received his BRHC employee identification badge. Beaman thinks there will be many opportunities at the hospital for Roscoe to apply his special therapy skills.

“I think he can help brighten the day of hospital patients, especially in the skilled nursing unit and in pediatrics, along with other areas,” Beaman said. “The plan is for the hospital to be in touch with me, and I’ll bring Roscoe as needed. I’ll also make special trips during school vacations and during the summer, as well as some weekends and evenings.”