Alternative therapies help hospital patients relax

Alternative therapies help hospital patients relax


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More hospitals around the U.S. are turning to alternative treatments and therapies to help patients calm down during what can be a very stressful time.

Some hospitals around the country now offer a massage, acupuncture, art or music therapy or other relaxation methods during hospital stays.

Various Utah hospitals have their own methods. For example, the pet therapy for cancer patients and kids at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo, where on occasion they bring in two large dogs.

"The kids can pet them. At times they've even hooked a harness up and pulled a wheelchair," said hospital spokeswoman Janet Frank.

She says it can instantly change moods. The American Hospital Association says 37 percent of U.S. hospitals offer some sort of alternative treatment.

E-mail: rjeppesen@ksl.com

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