Baby Goat Therapy introduced at St. Joseph and Redwood Memorial Hospitals

Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka and Providence Redwood Memorial Hospital introduced an innovative stress reduction strategy for caregivers at their hospitals recently.

In early April, Dr. Charles Knoll, medical director, rehabilitation services, showed the Humboldt executive leadership team a video of baby goats helping caregivers at a hospital in Oregon reduce stress and anxiety caused by the pandemic. Local leaders loved the idea and Christie Duray, volunteer services manager (aka director of goat therapy), reached out to a farm in Ferndale to inquire about providing baby goats for caregiver therapy. The team was met with enthusiasm from the goat owner. 

Within a couple of days a plan was in place. Baby goat therapy debuted at Redwood Memorial Hospital and then made its way up to Eureka to St. Joseph Hospital and General Hospital. The baby goats - some just a few days old - were cuddled and caressed by a wave of excited caregivers and it was just what the "doctor" ordered. Hundreds of caregivers took advantage of the sessions, and the overriding sentiment was one of "sheer" happiness.

See below media coverage of the therapy sessions.