What should you do if a patient walks into your practice with a leashed dog?

When a patient comes into a healthcare practice with a leashed dog, the appropriate action is to ask the patient if the dog is a service animal. This approach is aligned with both the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines and best practices for handling service animals in healthcare settings.

Service animals are specifically defined as dogs that are individually trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities. By asking whether the dog is a service animal, you respect the patient's rights while ensuring compliance with legal requirements. The ADA permits staff to make limited inquiries about service animals, specifically to confirm their status and the tasks they have been trained to perform, without requesting documentation or requiring the animal to wear a specific vest.

This practice mitigates potential liability and fosters an inclusive environment for patients who may rely on service animals for support. Understanding the distinction between service animals and emotional support animals or other pets is also critical, as the latter do not have the same legal rights to access public spaces, including healthcare facilities.