A Dose of Paw-sitiv­i­ty with Elsa

The Patient Experience

Welcome to A Dose of Paw-sitivity with Elsa. Elsa and her handler, Gail, spend their days visiting patients, teammates, and clinics throughout Onslow Memorial Hospital, sharing comfort, smiles, and plenty of tail wags. Through her visits across the hospital and outpatient clinics, Elsa’s mission is simple, bring a little extra joy and encouragement to everyone she meets while spreading paw-sitivity throughout Onslow Memorial Hospital.

Hello, my friends!

I have to tell you about a really cool adventure I had.

My friend Monica helped me understand what so many of my friends experience when they come see us at Onslow Memorial Hospital's Emergency Department.

One of my favorite moments was entering through the front doors and spotting the resident geese outside. There were so many of them! I wanted to stop and say hello, but Mom reminded me that people were waiting to see me inside.

Inside, a friendly nurse at the front desk greeted me and checked me in. I didn’t even have to wait before being whisked away to get weighed.

After they took my vitals, they escorted me to a private room in the back. I sat so good in the chair! Before I knew it, a nurse and Dr. Kolb came into the room to see me. They were so friendly! They gave me so many pets and told me I was healthy.

Then a nurse wheeled a cart into the room with tubes on it...Mom said it was just in case they needed my blood 😱 Luckily for me, no blood was taken!

Another highlight of my visit was seeing where CT scans are performed. I’d never been back there before! The tech joked that the scan would show just how beautiful I am—inside and out!

Everyone I got to see was so nice, and everything moved so quickly and smoothly. Along the way, I got to visit many of my favorite friends and patients. It was a great day!

Thank you to my friend, Monica, for taking me on a tour and showing me the processes. Till next time!

With love,

Queen Elsa 🐾