Canine Comfort: Security and Emergency Preparedness

By Lea Witkowski-Purl | Photos courtesy of Ochsner Security

In 2022, the Security and Emergency Preparedness Fund primarily enhanced our canine security program. Your support provided training and equipment for the security teams across Ochsner Health.

Your generosity also allowed us to expand, providing additional security canine officers for our North Louisiana campuses. Canine officers are popular among patients and staff, adding an additional level of security and comfort.

Pete joined the security canine team thanks to your support.

Photo courtesy of Ochsner Security

The healthcare setting can be stressful as we are coping with appointments, sometimes illness and occasionally loss. Many people love animals, especially dogs, and our security team loves to bring a little joy to patients and their families with our canine officers.

“The presence of a security canine officer brings a feeling of being safe, a feeling of comfort and just makes your day a little bit better,” said Mark Dupuis, Vice President and Chief of Security and Emergency Preparedness.

This program continues to be one of our most successful security programs as it centers around one of our core values: compassion. Our security canine team is founded on compassion and safety, which they provide to our patients and staff when they need it the most thanks to your support.

Hunter joined the security canine team thanks to your support.

Photo courtesy of Ochsner Security